Pricing Information
At Workwise Legal we pride ourselves on our reputation for excellent client service; pragmatic advice; thorough representation and value for money. The cost of the work we carry out for you will vary according to the complexity of your matter and the volume of work required.
When you engage us to carry out work for you, we will be as clear as possible about how much that work is likely to cost. If your work is to be carried out according to an hourly rate, we will clearly state the applicable hourly rate and an estimate of how many hours’ work are likely to be required. We will update our estimates as your case progresses. Workwise Legal currently consists of two partners. Our hourly rate for both our employer and employee clients is £350 plus VAT (20%) an hour.
We are sometimes able to offer fixed fee prices; this is particularly common where the work is project based.
To help you keep track of your costs as your case progresses, we usually bill on a monthly basis.
Our regulator, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, also requires us to provide price transparency in respect of our likely fees representing clients in certain employment tribunal cases (unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal).
Unfair dismissal – for employers and employees
Our fees to represent you in relation to a standalone ordinary unfair dismissal claim (assuming that the final hearing is 1-3 days) are likely to be between £10,000 and £30,000 plus VAT. Barristers’ fees for representing you are not included in this fee estimate. These are an extra cost payable in advance and will vary according to the seniority and experience of the barrister engaged, the complexity of the case and the length of the hearing. Barristers’ fees for unfair dismissal claims listed for 1-3 days are likely to be £5,000 - £15,000 plus VAT. We do not control the level of barristers’ fees and these will be negotiated on a case by case basis.
Wrongful dismissal – for employers and employees
Wrongful dismissal claims (i.e. notice pay claims) in an employment tribunal have a compensation limit of £25,000. Higher value wrongful dismissal claims are likely to be pursued in the civil courts.
Our fees to represent you in relation to a standalone wrongful dismissal claim (assuming that the final hearing is one day) are likely to be between £4,500 and £12,000 plus VAT. As explained above, barristers’ fees for representing you are additional. Barristers’ fees for wrongful dismissal claims listed for one day are likely to be £3,000 - £5,000 plus VAT.
Our fee estimates detailed above include:
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Initiating ACAS early conciliation (employee clients)
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Representing you in ACAS early conciliation (employee and employer clients)
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Drafting and submitting your claim (employee clients)
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Drafting and submitting your defence (employer clients)
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Preparing for and arranging representation for the case management hearing (employee and employer clients)
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Complying with case management directions including compiling your schedule of loss (employee clients); collating, reviewing and exchanging documents (employee and employer clients) and drafting witness statements (employee and employer clients)
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Briefing Counsel for the final hearing (employee and employer clients)
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Correspondence with the employment tribunal and the other party (employee and employer clients)
Timescales and key stages
How long a standalone claim for either ordinary unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal will take to reach conclusion varies enormously according to the particular employment tribunal the claim is conducted in as well as the complexity of the matter. However, most claims from submission of the claim to the employment tribunal through to receipt of the judgment will take between 9 and 24 months.