Summary
- Everyday legal work costs $200–450/hour (US) or £150–350/hour (UK).
- Standard matters like wills and conveyancing are usually available as fixed fees.
- Disbursements — court, search and expert fees — are billed on top.
- Ask who does the work; junior staff bill at a much lower rate.
- Check existing insurance or membership cover before paying privately.
Quick answer
A lawyer typically charges $200–450 per hour in the US and £150–350 per hour in the UK. Big-city commercial firms bill well above that; small local firms handling everyday matters sit at the lower end. Many routine matters are now offered as a fixed fee instead.
Typical 2026 hourly rates by area
| Area of law | US per hour | UK per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Family and divorce | $250–450 | £180–300 |
| Employment | $250–450 | £180–320 |
| Property and conveyancing | $200–350 | £150–275 |
| Wills, probate and estates | $200–400 | £150–290 |
| Business and contracts | $300–600 | £200–400 |
| Corporate / M&A (large firm) | $500–1,200 | £350–800 |
| Criminal defence | $200–400 | £150–280 |
Junior lawyers and paralegals are billed at a lower rate; ask who will actually do the work.
Fixed fees: usually the better deal
Most standard matters are available as a fixed price:
| Matter | US | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Simple will | $300–900 | £150–500 |
| Residential conveyancing (legal fee only) | $800–2,000 | £700–1,600 |
| Employment contract review | $400–900 | £250–650 |
| Setting up a company with shareholder agreement | $1,000–3,000 | £700–2,000 |
| Uncontested divorce | $1,500–4,000 | £900–2,500 |
A fixed fee removes the risk of an open-ended bill. Ask what falls outside it — extra correspondence, court fees and searches are commonly excluded.
Other ways lawyers charge
What else lands on the invoice
Court and filing fees, search fees, expert reports, barrister or counsel fees, travel and sales tax or VAT are usually charged on top of the professional fee. Ask for an estimate of these disbursements in writing.
How to keep legal costs down
Summary
Expect $200–450/hour (US) or £150–350/hour (UK) for everyday legal work, with commercial specialists charging far more. Wherever a matter is standard, ask for a fixed fee and a written list of excluded costs before you instruct.