Legal Cost Estimator (AU)
This free tool estimates the likely legal costs for common Australian matter types — including professional fees, disbursements, and court costs. Select your matter type, jurisdiction, and complexity level to see a cost range based on published cost scales, industry survey data, and typical disbursement patterns.
What this tool does
Clients ask "how much will this cost?" before they instruct. Giving a realistic range early builds trust and avoids disputes later. This tool draws on published cost scales, Law Society cost survey data, and typical disbursement ranges to give you a defensible starting point for your cost disclosure.
How to use it
- Select the matter type (litigation, conveyancing, family, estate, commercial, criminal)
- Choose the jurisdiction (state or territory)
- Indicate the complexity level (straightforward, moderate, complex)
- Review the estimated fee range, typical disbursements, and court costs
- Use the estimate as a starting point for your Section 174 or equivalent cost disclosure
What you'll learn
- Typical fee ranges for common matter types in your jurisdiction
- How complexity and jurisdiction affect the cost estimate
- Standard disbursement categories and their typical ranges
- Where to find the published cost scales and survey data that underpin the estimates
Interactive tool coming soon
The interactive Legal Cost Estimator (AU) is currently in development. In the meantime, start a free Quillio trial — the time savings are real and measurable on your own matters within the first week.
Start free trialTool FAQs
Where does the cost data come from?
The estimates draw on published court cost scales, Law Society and Bar Association cost surveys, and anonymised fee data from Australian firms. The tool cites its sources for each estimate.
How accurate are the estimates?
They represent a typical range for the selected matter type, jurisdiction, and complexity. Actual costs depend on the specific facts, the lawyer's experience, and the fee arrangement. Use the range as a starting point, not a quote.
Does it include GST?
Estimates are shown exclusive of GST. A GST-inclusive toggle is available for client-facing use.
Can I use this for a cost disclosure?
The estimate can inform your cost disclosure, but the disclosure must be tailored to the specific matter and comply with the requirements of your jurisdiction's legal profession legislation.
Does it cover fixed-fee matters?
For matter types commonly done on fixed fees (such as conveyancing and simple wills), the tool shows the typical fixed-fee range rather than an hourly estimate.
Is this updated when cost scales change?
Yes. The data is reviewed when new cost scales or survey results are published, typically annually. The last-reviewed date is shown on the results page.
Test the savings on your own work
Quillio generates cost estimates automatically when you open a new matter, based on the matter type, jurisdiction, and your firm's historical data. Start the free trial to see cost estimation built into your workflow.
Cost estimates are indicative ranges based on published data and industry surveys. Actual costs depend on the specific facts of the matter, the fee arrangement, and the practitioner. This tool does not constitute a costs agreement or legal advice.
Stop estimating. Start measuring.
The free trial is the fastest way to know whether AI saves you the hours this calculator estimates. No credit card, no sales call — sign up and measure the difference in your first week.
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