How we charge
Transparent pricinggrounded in SRA rules
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has published Transparency Rules to ensure consumers have the information needed to choose a legal service provider — including what certain matters are likely to cost. Every client and every matter is different; the figures below are approximate guides. Once we understand your circumstances, we will provide a more accurate fee quote.
Hourly rates (2024/25)
£275 – £350
Plus VAT. Rates apply to individuals and employers and depend on seniority and complexity. Reviewed annually with effect from 1 April each year.
Employment Law
Employment LawUnfair & wrongful dismissal — Employment Tribunal
Boardside specialises in high-value and complex employment and partnership disputes. Pricing below covers drafting the claim or defence, exchange of documents and witness statements, and the final hearing. It does not cover party–party correspondence or additional Tribunal applications (for example specific disclosure). Figures include typical disbursements unless noted otherwise, and are plus VAT.
Unless the scope of advice is clearly limited (such as signing off a settlement agreement), we do not usually act on matters where there is less than £30,000 at stake.
Individuals — bringing an unfair dismissal claim
Standalone ‘ordinary’ unfair dismissal, hearing length typically 1–3 days: around £10,000 to £35,000 (plus VAT), including disbursements.
Straightforward
£7,500 – £12,000
Plus VAT
Medium complexity
£12,000 – £25,000
Plus VAT
High complexity
£25,000 – £40,000
Plus VAT
Individuals — wrongful dismissal
A standalone Employment Tribunal claim with a hearing length of 1 day may cost in the region of £5,000 to £10,000 (plus VAT), including disbursements. Higher-value wrongful dismissal claims are typically brought in the Civil Courts.
Services for employers
Defending unfair dismissal
Plus VAT, including disbursements — approximate guide for a standalone ‘ordinary’ unfair dismissal defence.
£15,000 – £30,000
Defending wrongful dismissal
Plus VAT, including disbursements — approximate guide for a standalone defence.
£8,000 – £15,000
Barristers’ fees for attending a Tribunal hearing (including preparation) are generally from £1,000 to £3,000 (plus VAT) per day for individuals’ matters, and from £1,000 to £3,500 (plus VAT) per day when acting for employers — depending on experience (more for a KC).
Unless settled, Employment Tribunal proceedings for unfair or wrongful dismissal typically last somewhere between 9 and 24 months from issue of the claim to judgment.
Business Immigration
Business ImmigrationUK immigration applications — indicative legal fees
Where we are instructed on a standard immigration application, our typical fees fall in the range of £500 – £4,000. The schedule below gives estimates by application type. This range does not include VAT (currently 20%) or disbursements such as Home Office fees.
Estimates are based on hourly rates of between £275 and £350. In most cases the quote you receive will be the final fee; if complexity increases, we will notify you before carrying out additional work.
Fees for applications made outside or inside the UK under the Immigration Rules. These are estimates for common application types — not a quote. VAT at 20% will be applied in addition. Disbursements are excluded.
Work, business & investment
| Application type | Fee range |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Licence application | £1,750 – £3,500 |
| Skilled Worker visa | £1,250 – £3,000 |
| Health and Care Worker visa | £1,250 – £3,000 |
| Global Business Mobility visa (Senior/Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, Secondment Worker, Representative of an Overseas Business) | £1,250 – £3,000 |
| Temporary Work visa (Seasonal, Creative, Religious, Charity, International Agreements, Government Authorised Exchanges) | £1,250 – £3,000 |
| UK ancestry visa | £825 – £1,500 |
| High Potential Individual visa | £1,250 – £3,000 |
| Graduate visa | £825 – £2,000 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme visa | £1,250 – £3,000 |
| Global Talent visa | £1,250 – £3,000 |
| Innovator Founder visa | £1,250 – £3,000 |
| Frontier Worker visa | £825 – £2,000 |
| Visa for a dependant of a person in an investment, business or work category | £825 – £1,500 |
Indefinite leave to remain
| Application type | Fee range |
|---|---|
| ILR — worker routes (including Skilled Worker, UK Ancestry, Representative of an Overseas Business) | £825 – £2,500 |
| ILR — long residence concession | £1,500 – £3,000 |
| ILR for a dependant of a person in a work category | £825 – £2,500 |
Students
| Application type | Fee range |
|---|---|
| Student visa | £550 – £1,500 |
| Visa for the partner or child of a student | £550 – £1,500 |
Family members
| Application type | Fee range |
|---|---|
| Partner, child, adopted child or other dependent relative of a British citizen | £825 – £3,000 |
Visitors
| Application type | Fee range |
|---|---|
| Visit entry clearance / leave to enter or limited leave to remain | £550 – £1,500 |
Right of abode & citizenship
| Application type | Fee range |
|---|---|
| Certificate of entitlement to the right of abode | £825 – £2,500 |
| Naturalisation or registration as a British citizen | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Application for a British passport | £275 – £550 |
Included: Typical fees cover initial advice, assessing the right application, evidence review (not translation), preparing and submitting the application, Home Office liaison where possible, and advice on the decision.
Not included: Not included: Home Office interviews; new applications after refusal; barristers’ advice; Home Office and Visa Application Centre fees; interpreters/translators; expert reports; travel expenses.
On average we can usually submit a standard immigration application within two to three weeks of instruction. Home Office processing times are outside our control — see gov.uk visa processing times.
Important notes
- All legal fee ranges are exclusive of VAT unless stated otherwise. VAT is currently charged at 20%.
- Disbursements (counsel, Home Office fees, couriers, printing, interpreters, experts) are payable in addition and often paid directly to third parties.
- Figures are estimates for guidance under SRA Transparency Rules and may change. They are not a fixed quote.
- Retainer clients and insured instructions may be charged differently.
Need a tailored fee quote?
Call Boardside on 0330 094 9338 for an initial conversation, or contact us and we will discuss the work involved and associated costs for your matter.
Talk to us today