The firm informs you from the very first exchange of how its fees are calculated and of their likely amount. VAT at the rate of 20% applies to the firm’s fees.
The fee agreement
In accordance with the law, every engagement of the firm is governed by a written fee agreement, signed before the assignment begins. It sets out the method of calculation, the work envisaged and the terms of payment, so that you know the financial framework of your case from the outset.
Methods of billing
Depending on the nature of the case, fees may be set according to one or more of the following methods:
- Time-based fee: calculated on the time actually spent on the case, at the firm’s usual hourly rate of €200 excl. tax (€240 incl. tax).
- Fixed fee: a set amount agreed in advance for a service whose scope can be defined.
- Contingency fee: as a supplement, a fee based on the result obtained — often a gain or a saving — may be agreed, generally between 5% and 15%. It may also take the form of a fixed premium where a positive outcome cannot be quantified. This fee is added to the base fee and can never be its sole component.
Your first appointment with your lawyer
The first appointment, at the office or by video call, allows you to set out your situation and to assess your rights and the available options. Its fee is, as a rule, €100 excl. tax (€120 incl. tax).
Legal advice
Distinct from the first appointment, a legal consultation is a service in its own right: it consists in analysing a specific point of law and providing you with a reasoned opinion, in writing, without proceedings necessarily being brought. It involves examining your documents, researching the applicable legislation and case law, and then setting out a reasoned answer and the options open to you.
It is billed on a time-spent basis. The likely time required is indicated to you before the work begins, so that you can decide in full knowledge of the facts.
In the event of a dispute over fees
Should a dispute arise over fees, a written complaint may be addressed directly to Maître Toorawa in order to seek an amicable solution. If the dispute persists, the client may refer the matter to the Bâtonnier of the Toulouse Bar, who alone has jurisdiction to rule on fee disputes. A consumer client may also apply to the national consumer mediator of the legal profession (contact details in the legal notice).