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@6th, 10:42 "What codswallop gets talked about solicitors charging a percentage. Why should a solicitor not charge a percentage? A bigger estate reflects a bigger risk."

Because it exploits clients. Compounded by the fact when you shop around, you can't find transparent hourly rates or price guidelines without time intensive calls (as I found out when searching for a reliable law firm for probate). Fortunately that is soon to change by regulation. A "bigger" estate certainly equates to a higher negligence claim value. But there's no automatic connection between estate value and time spent or complexity. Most wealth lies in a person's property. Whether that costs £150,000 in the North West or £500,000 plus in the South, it has no bearing on time or complexity. Which is why percentage fees are not value for clients. What the profession should be offering is more fixed fees. But my experience as an in house lawyer and consumer is firms often resist this tooth and nail. Because it's not as profitable as an hourly rate. And thus the estate ends up with a large bill for a process much of which is simply administrative and done by trainees or very junior solicitors.

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