Aligned Pricing

Where most firms charge clients by time using an hourly rate broken down into 6 minute increments, Macfarlane Law is different – good different. You’ll immediately notice a set of key beliefs that distinguish me from other lawyers and law firms. I believe:

1. in prioritising value and outcomes over time as a measure of price;
2. in giving clients clarity and certainty regarding the cost of litigation; and
3. that client relationships and effective communication matter more than timesheets.

I became a lawyer because I’m driven to achieve fairness. That doesn’t just mean seeking fairness for you; it also means that in all of our interactions I do what is fair.

I dislike the 6 minute billable unit as much as my clients do. The behaviour rewarded under the hourly rate approach is not aligned with your economic interest; it incentivises inefficiency and discourages innovation. It can also be detrimental to the way you interact with your lawyer, creating hesitation in being able to freely communicate to obtain timely advice. With hourly rate fee models, I know clients sometimes think, ‘I wanted to run it by you, but I didn’t want to get charged’ or they are watching the clock to ensure phone calls and meetings don’t tip over into the next 6 minute increment. That’s not the kind of interaction I want for clients.

At Macfarlane Law, I align pricing with your objectives and desired outcomes. I do that by implementing a more progressive approach; by taking the time to understand your needs and by agreeing with you upon a fixed price for legal services. This means our expectations are also aligned and you have certainty.

Accurately pricing legal matters (even in litigation) is not difficult for highly experienced practitioners.

This approach means we both share the risk of litigation costs, as opposed to you bearing all of the risks if the actual costs exceed estimates. I know how frustrating it can be for a client when their lawyer continually updates fee estimates because the prior estimates have been exceeded, whilst continuing to issue bills.

Despite my preference for value aligned pricing, there may be circumstances where a standard hourly rate to determine fees is appropriate or preferred by you.  For example, this might be because the scope of work is not able to be determined or your desired outcome is not known at the outset of a matter. In these circumstances, I will only charge you in 1 minute increments, meaning that you will only pay for the actual time you receive the benefit of, not for a rounded up 6 minute block of time.