What will the first step cost?

Is the first conversation intake or advice?

Before booking, ask what the first conversation is for. An office may use an initial call to find out whether it can consider your enquiry. That does not necessarily include legal advice, reviewing documents or explaining a strategy. An advice appointment may be a different service with its own fee and preparation requirements.

Use a specific opening question: “I would like someone to review this document and explain my options. Is that included in the first appointment, and what would the total charge be?” This gives the office a task to price. If you only ask what a consultation costs, you may receive a figure without learning whether it covers the thing you need.

A directory record cannot confirm today’s prices. Even where a firm advertises a free first consultation, ask about its duration, eligibility, document limits and whether advice is included. Keep the advertised offer and the provider’s answer together for your own reference. There is no universal consultation price across Australian lawyers, and we do not publish an invented average.

Three arrangements, different questions.

The Law Society of NSW explains that solicitors use different ways of calculating costs, including hourly and fixed charges. Its explanation of how solicitors charge is a useful NSW reference; confirm the arrangement and applicable rules with your own provider.

Think in stages. You may initially need a review and explanation, then decide whether to request a letter, negotiation or representation. Ask the office to distinguish the cost of the first task from the cost of possible later work. An estimate for one stage should not be read as a quote for the entire matter.

Ask what sits outside the headline fee.

Request a written breakdown of what is included and excluded. Ask about GST, document searches, filing fees, reports, barrister involvement or other third-party expenses where relevant. You do not need to predict which of these applies yourself: ask the provider to identify the likely items for the work it proposes. Also ask whether payment is required before work begins and when invoices will be issued.

For a document review, the useful details might be the number of documents, approximate length, time for discussion and whether you receive written advice. For a meeting, ask whether preparation time and follow-up are included. For ongoing work, ask how you will approve additional tasks. These practical questions help two quotes describe the same service.

In employment proceedings, the Fair Work Commission’s fee guidance highlights the importance of understanding fixed-fee boundaries and conditional arrangements. Read the terms rather than assuming a label means every stage or expense is covered.

Say what you can spend on the first stage.

If your budget is limited, explain that before agreeing to an appointment. Ask whether the office offers a clearly defined initial task, can explain payment arrangements or can point you towards another source of assistance. A useful question is: “What can you assess within this budget, and what would remain unresolved?” The answer should identify limits, not promise a particular result.

If private advice is not affordable, look into legal aid, community legal centres or an appropriate specialist support service. Ask each service about its eligibility, area of work and current capacity. Do not assume a referral guarantees an appointment or representation. If a deadline is involved, raise it while looking for assistance.

Turn the quote into a clear decision.

Before accepting an offer, write down the task, total or estimated first-stage cost, exclusions, payment timing and proposed next step. Then check whether the office’s written terms match what you understood from the conversation. If a phrase is unclear, ask for an explanation before agreeing. Keep the documents somewhere you can find them if the work changes.

Our printable office comparison worksheet leaves space for these answers alongside timing and communication arrangements. It helps you compare offers without treating price as the only consideration. Once you choose an office, confirm that it has actually accepted the work and knows about any important date.