What are our fees?

Our fees cover the services and duties performed by the lawyer in defending the client’s interests. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

• study and management of the file,
• the drafting of pleadings (petition, citation, conclusions),
• the preparation of the evidence file,
• filing of pleadings at the court,
• meetings with the client at the office and negotiation meetings,
• writing and receiving letters, faxes and e-mails,
• research in doctrine and jurisprudence,
• telephone communications,
• travel and waiting time in courtrooms,
• customer assistance and representation at all hearings.

How are they calculated?

The principles of accessibility of our services and transparency guide the development of our fee policy. 

Three methods of calculating fees are used within the firm. The lawyer you are consulting will explain to you at the first interview which of the three methods they will use depending on your case.

• 1. Hourly rate: the lawyer counts the time they devote to your file and bills at their hourly rate. The firm’s lawyers charge prices that vary within a range of €80 to €150 per hour.
  The lawyer in charge of your case will regularly provide you with their statement of expenses and intermediate fees, and at the end of the case, their final statement.
• 2. The package per service: for a very specific procedure, the lawyer indicates the full cost of his work at the beginning of the procedure.
• 3. A percentage of the stake : The lawyer’s fees are calculated based on a percentage of the amounts recovered in principal and interest. A minimum amount (which may correspond to one of the first two methods) may, however, be fixed.

Any schedule, lump sum or percentage is based on the complexity of the case, the experience and specialisation of the lawyer and the urgency with which intervention will be required.

In any case, during the first interview, the lawyer will ask you to pay them an initial deposit.

Expenses and VAT

Unless expressly stipulated otherwise, expenses related to the file that you entrust to the lawyer are not included in the fees and are therefore charged in addition to the costs actually incurred. This is as follows:

• legal costs (court fees, bailiff fees, expert fees);
• legal fees incurred by the lawyer (file opening fees, secretarial and typing fees, postage, travel expenses, telephony, fax and copy fees, translation costs, consultation of the national register, etc..).

Moreover, since 1 January 2014, all lawyers are subject to VAT. The fees and expenses are therefore increased by 21% VAT (deductible if the client is also subject).

Consultation

Each of the firm’s lawyers is available by appointment and sets the price of their consultation themselves. This information may be obtained prior to the consultation, via the reception desk or directly from the lawyer concerned.

Yet a duty lawyer is available for free and without appointment, from Monday to Friday from 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Free legal aid (formerly pro deo)

Some of the firm’s lawyers agree to work as part of free legal aid.

Access to free legal aid is, however, subject to strict conditions and the prior and mandatory disclosure of certain documents (see: http://www.aidejuridiquebruxelles.be/index.php/conditions-d-acces-a-l-aide-juridique-de-deuxieme-ligne).

The client who can benefit from the free legal aid will make sure to bring the necessary documents as from the appointment with the lawyer.