Pricing & Transparency
This page sets out information about our fees in accordance with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Transparency Rules. The costs outlined below are intended as a guide only. Exact fees will depend on the circumstances of your matter and the work required.
All fees are exclusive of VAT, which is charged at the prevailing rate.
Employment Tribunal Claims
(Unfair Dismissal & Wrongful Dismissal)
We act for both employees and employers in Employment Tribunal proceedings. Our fees are generally charged by reference to the time spent, taking into account the complexity of the matter.
Hourly Rates
Solicitor: £200 – £300
Senior Solicitor: £300 – £375
Paralegal / Legal Assistant: £150 – £190
The applicable rate will depend on the experience of the fee earner dealing with your case.
Typical Overall Costs
The total cost of an Employment Tribunal claim will vary depending on complexity, how the case progresses, and whether it proceeds to a final hearing.
It is hardly ever possible to specify the expected or exact total cost of a litigation case without information about the specific claim(s) involved. By way of guidance only, the likely range of our fees for a straightforward case that proceeds to a final hearing is likely to be between £20,000 and £30,000 (excluding disbursements and VAT). By contrast, for a case with ‘medium’ complexity, we would expect the range of fees to be between £35,000 and £50,000 (excluding disbursements and VAT). For the most complex cases, we would expect our fees to range between £55,000 and £100,000 (excluding disbursements and VAT).
We do wish to stress that cases can settle at any stage, including from the outset of the matter. In most cases, the parties are encouraged to seek alternative ways of resolving their disputes where possible.
These figures reflect the total legal costs from initial advice through to the conclusion of a final hearing, where applicable.
Factors Influencing Complexity
The overall cost of an employment claim is influenced by a number of factors, including:
The number and nature of legal issues involved
The volume of documentation and evidence
The procedural steps required by the Tribunal
The extent of factual or legal dispute between the parties
The number of witnesses and the hearing length
Whether interim or preliminary hearings are required
The level of engagement in settlement negotiations
We deliberately do not categorise matters rigidly, as Employment Tribunal cases often evolve as they progress. We will provide an updated cost estimate if circumstances change.
What Our Fees Typically Include
Initial assessment and strategic advice
Drafting and filing of ET1 or ET3
Advice on ACAS early conciliation and settlement options
Preparation of witness statements and hearing documents
Ongoing correspondence and case management
What Is Not Included
Appeal proceedings
Drafting settlement agreements (unless agreed separately)
Barrister or advocate fees
Disbursements
Disbursements
Where advocacy by a barrister is required, this will be an additional cost. We will always obtain estimate of fees from barristers and obtain your instructions before engaging them formally. We will always discuss this with you in advance.
Timescale
Employment Tribunal claims typically take 6–12 months, although more complex matters may take longer.
Debt Recovery (Undisputed Debts)
This section applies to the recovery of undisputed commercial debts. If a debt becomes disputed, we will discuss alternative pricing arrangements before proceeding further.
Pre-Action Fixed Fees
Debt Value of up to £5,000 - Fee of £500
Debt Value between £5,001 to £10,000 - Fee of £750
Debt Value between £10,001 to £50,000 - Fee of £850
Debt Value between £50,001 to £100,000 - Fee of £1,000
Debt Value of £100,001+ - Fee from £1,500
What Is Included
Review of relevant documents
Drafting and sending a compliant Letter Before Action
Reasonable follow-up correspondence
Advice on next steps if payment is not received
What Is Not Included
Issuing court proceedings
Defended claims
Enforcement action
Dibsursements
If Court Action Is Required
If proceedings are necessary, we will agree on either:
a further fixed-fee structure (where appropriate), or
hourly charging based on the complexity of the matter
You will always receive a cost estimate before we issue proceedings.
Disbursements
Court issue fees (set by HMCTS, dependent on claim value)
Enforcement or tracing fees, where applicable
Timescale
Many undisputed debts are resolved within 14–28 days of pre-action correspondence.
Probate Fees
We offer both Grant-Only and Full Estate Administration services. Probate fees are calculated by reference to the Law Society’s recommended approach, combining a time element with a value element.
Grant of Probate Only
Fees:
Charged on a time basis at £200 per hour
Typical cost range:
£1,250 – £2,750
This service is suitable where executors wish to deal with the estate administration themselves.
Full Estate Administration
Our fees are calculated as follows:
Time Element
Charged at £200 per hour
Value Element
1% of the value of the estate, plus
0.5% of the gross value of any property
This reflects the responsibility and risk involved in administering the estate.
Where Lyon Croft Law Is Appointed as Executor
If we are appointed as professional executors, our fees are typically:
2% of the net value of the estate, plus
1% of the gross value of any property
This is consistent with industry practice where solicitors act as executors.
Factors Affecting Probate Costs
The size and composition of the estate
The number of beneficiaries
Whether assets are held abroad
Tax reporting requirements
Claims against the estate or disputes
We will provide a tailored estimate once full details are available.
Probate Disbursements
Probate application fee: £300
Official copies of the Grant: £16 per copy
Search fees, notices, or valuation fees where required
Regulatory Information & Complaints
Lyon Croft Law is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
SRA Number: 8011215
A copy of our complaints procedure is available on request.