Family Law Fees Scotland: The Only Firm with 3-Minute Billing Units
Why Pay for Time You Don’t Use?
Whilst other Scottish family law firms round up to 6 or 10-minute units, we bill in precise 3-minute increments.
Real example: A 2-minute call about your case costs £10 with us, but £30 elsewhere. Over your case, this adds up to thousands in savings.
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How We Compare to Other Scottish Family Law Firms
Typical Scottish Firms
- ❌ 6-10 minute billing units
- ❌ Fees often not published
- ❌ Monthly or quarterly billing
- ❌ Quotes exclude VAT
- ❌ Multiple lawyers on your case
- ❌ Often charge for consultations
- ❌ Travel time at full rate
Average cost for typical divorce: £8,000-£15,000
Rooney Family Law
- ✅ 3-minute billing units
- ✅ Transparent published rates
- ✅ Weekly itemised billing
- ✅ All quotes include VAT
- ✅ Dedicated solicitor throughout*
- ✅ 15-minute initial consultation
- ✅ No travel charges within cities
Average cost for typical divorce: £5,000-£10,000
Save 20-30%
*Your case will be handled primarily by one solicitor throughout. In the event of holidays or urgent matters, our meticulous file management ensures colleagues can seamlessly assist when needed.
Our Current Hourly Rates (Including VAT)
| Legal Professional | Hourly Rate (exc. VAT) | Hourly Rate (inc. VAT) | Per 3-Min Unit | Market Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managing Partner Law Society Accredited Specialist in Family Law |
£400 | £480 | £24.00 | Specialist firms: £350–£500/hr Often with 6–10 min units |
| Senior Solicitor / Head of Litigation Experienced litigation and complex financial provision work |
£350 | £420 | £21.00 | City firms: £300–£450/hr Often with 6–10 min units |
| Senior Solicitor | £350 | £420 | £21.00 | City firms: £300–£450/hr Often with 6–10 min units |
| Senior Associate | £300 | £360 | £18.00 | Most firms: £250–£375/hr Often with 6–10 min units |
| Associate Solicitor | £275 | £330 | £16.50 | Most firms: £220–£350/hr Often with 6–10 min units |
| Associate Solicitor | £250 | £300 | £15.00 | Most firms: £200–£325/hr Often with 6–10 min units |
Transcripts, Dictation and Attendance Notes
We routinely prepare an attendance note (a written record) of telephone calls, video calls, meetings and conferences.
This may be produced by typing, dictation, or transcription software.
Time spent on the call or meeting itself is chargeable professional time and is recorded in our usual 3-minute units.
In addition, time spent producing the attendance note or transcript is also chargeable.
This includes the time required to review, check, edit and finalise the written record, regardless of whether the note is created by typing, dictation, or automated transcription.
For clarity, attendance notes and transcripts are charged based on the length of the final written record,
calculated by reference to an average reading and review rate of approximately 50 words per minute,
with time recorded in 3-minute units (rounded up to the next full minute).
Example: If a call lasts 10 minutes, that call time is chargeable. If the resulting attendance note or transcript is 200 words in length,
this equates to approximately 4 minutes of additional chargeable time, recorded separately from the call itself.
🎯 Key Difference That Matters
It is not just about hourly rates – it is about how they are applied. A firm charging £250/hour with 6-minute units can cost you more than our higher hourly rates with 3-minute units. Here is why:
- Quick email check (2 mins): They charge £25, we charge £10
- Brief phone call (4 mins): They charge £25, we charge £20
- Court document review (22 mins): They charge £150, we charge £120
Minutes of Agreement / Separation Agreements
Preparation of the First Draft (Minimum Charge)
Where parties have reached agreement in principle and require us to prepare a binding Minute of Agreement / Separation Agreement,
our minimum charge for preparing and issuing the first draft is £1,500 plus VAT (currently £1,800 including VAT).
We require to be in funds of this amount before completing and issuing the first draft.
This is not a fixed fee for the whole Minute of Agreement process. It is the minimum charge for the initial drafting stage only.
The initial drafting charge covers the following work only:
- Taking instructions on the proposed terms of settlement
- Considering the financial and other information you have provided
- Reviewing relevant correspondence
- Structuring the Agreement so that it properly regulates the parties’ legal and financial arrangements
- Preparing and issuing the first full draft of the Minute of Agreement
Once the first draft has been issued, any further work required (including negotiations, amendments, additional drafts, and preparation of the final agreed version for signature and implementation)
is charged at the solicitor’s normal hourly rate, using our 3-minute billing units.
If at any stage it becomes clear that the likely overall cost will be significantly higher than originally anticipated, we will discuss this with you and provide updated cost information before proceeding further.
Calculate Your Savings
Typical Monthly Activity Comparison
Based on an average family law case with moderate complexity:
| Activity | Actual Time | Industry Charge | Our Charge | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 brief emails | 30 mins | £450 | £150 | £300 |
| 5 phone calls | 35 mins | £300 | £210 | £90 |
| 2 meetings | 90 mins | £540 | £540 | £0 |
| Document drafting | 120 mins | £720 | £720 | £0 |
| Monthly Total | 275 mins | £2,010 | £1,620 | £390 |
📊 Over a typical 12-month case, you save approximately £4,680 – enough to cover court dues, expert reports, and still have change.
Typical Case Costs (Based on Recent Case Data)
Unlike most firms who will not give you a straight answer, here are realistic cost ranges based on hundreds of recent cases:
| Type of Matter | Simple | Moderate Complexity | Complex/Contested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divorce (No Children) | £1,500-£3,000 | £3,000-£6,000 | £6,000-£15,000 |
| Divorce (With Children) | £2,500-£4,000 | £4,000-£8,000 | £8,000-£20,000 |
| Financial Provision Only | £2,000-£3,500 | £3,500-£7,000 | £7,000-£25,000 |
| Child Arrangements | £1,500-£3,000 | £3,000-£6,000 | £6,000-£15,000 |
| Cohabitation Disputes | £2,000-£4,000 | £4,000-£8,000 | £8,000-£20,000 |
Fixed Fee Service
We offer a fixed fee for certain undefended divorce actions:
Ordinary Divorce – Fixed Fee
For straightforward undefended cases
Legal fees: £932.90 + VAT (£1,119.48)
Court fees: £265
Sheriff Officers: £115.52
Total: £1,550
Please note: All other family law matters are charged at our standard hourly rates using our unique 3-minute billing units. This ensures you receive fair, transparent pricing for the actual work undertaken on your case.
Flexible Payment Solutions
We understand family law matters often arise at financially difficult times. We offer flexible payment arrangements:
Pay As You Go
- Weekly billing keeps you in control
- Stop or pause anytime
- No large upfront retainer
- Minimum initial payment: £500
Standing Order
- Fixed monthly payments
- Spread costs over time
- Budget with certainty
- From £250 per month
Payment on Account
- Maintain credit balance
- Top up as needed
- Weekly statements show balance
- Full transparency
Payment Note: Deferred payment may be available for financial recovery cases only (settlements, property division). Child arrangements require payment on account or regular payments. We do not offer legal aid services but have payment plans from £250/month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do most firms not use 3-minute billing?
It requires investment in technology and training. Many firms use systems designed for 6-minute units. We have invested in systems and processes to bill fairly and precisely.
How do I know you will not just take longer to do tasks?
We are regulated by the Law Society of Scotland and our billing is transparent. Our weekly statements show what has been done and the time recorded. If you ever have a query, we will explain the entry and the work undertaken.
What about your initial consultation?
We offer a 15-minute telephone consultation to understand your situation and explain how we can help. Any work beyond that is charged at our standard rates.
Ready to Discuss Your Family Law Matter?
Book a 15-minute telephone consultation. We will explain how our 3-minute billing works and outline the next steps.
15-minute telephone consultation with follow-up email advice
Rooney Family Law – Scotland’s Only Family Law Firm with 3-Minute Billing
Law Society of Scotland Accredited Specialists | Established 2018
Serving clients across Scotland from 8 convenient locations