Fees
Fees are always agreed in writing, before any work begins, in a fee agreement signed by the client and the attorney.
As required by French law, a written fee agreement (convention d’honoraires) is concluded before any work starts. It sets out how fees are calculated, the foreseeable costs and the payment terms. The client knows what they are committing to before they commit.
Billing methods
- Fixed fee: for proceedings whose course is predictable (assistance in police custody, immediate-appearance hearings, appeals against removal orders, residence-permit applications, appeals before the National Court of Asylum, for example). The amount is set in advance and does not change.
- Hourly rate: for cases whose scope cannot be estimated at the outset. The hourly rate is [amount] € excl. VAT. A detailed statement of work accompanies every invoice.
- Success fee: in some cases an additional fee may be agreed depending on the outcome. It always comes on top of a base fee and can never replace it.
First meeting
[To specify: whether the first consultation is charged (amount) or whether a first phone contact is free.]
Legal aid
[To specify: whether legal aid (aide juridictionnelle) is accepted, full and/or partial, and in which matters.]
If the client’s income is below the thresholds set by the State, they may qualify for legal aid, which covers all or part of the fees. The firm helps put the application together.
Legal-expenses insurance
Some insurance policies (home, bank card, car) include legal-expenses cover that may pay part of the fees.
Costs
Procedural costs (court fees, bailiff, translation and travel costs) are separate from fees and are re-invoiced at cost, against receipts.
All amounts are exclusive of tax; VAT applies at 20%.