There is no standard price for a lawyer to review a contract in Australia, and no official body publishes one. Most lawyers charge by the hour or quote a fixed fee, and the cost depends on how long and complex the contract is, how urgent it is and who does the work. What the law does give you is the right to know the price in advance: in NSW, Victoria and WA a lawyer must give you a written costs disclosure, including an estimate, if the work is likely to cost more than $750 (excluding GST and disbursements), and in South Australia if it is likely to cost more than $1,500. Ask for a fixed fee and a written estimate before you send the contract. If you first want to understand what the contract says, a plain-English review costs $49, but it is not legal advice.
Checked on 9 November 2026 against the Legal Profession Uniform Law and official pages from the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner and the South Australian Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner, listed under Sources. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does a lawyer charge to review a contract?
It varies too much for a single honest figure. We looked for official or regulator-published fee figures for contract reviews and did not find any we could rely on, so this page does not quote a dollar range. The Victorian regulator explains that what a lawyer charges depends on:
- how much time the work takes
- how complex the work is
- who works on your matter (a senior lawyer usually costs more per hour than a junior one)
- the type and quality of legal services they offer
Whatever the method, the fee must be “fair and reasonable”. The Victorian regulator says it looks at factors such as the skill and seniority of the lawyers, how complex and how urgent the work was, and its quality.
For a contract review, that means a short, standard agreement read for one or two points will usually cost much less than a long commercial contract that needs advice, a marked-up copy and negotiation with the other side. The only reliable way to know is to ask for a written quote.
Hourly rates vs fixed fees
Regulators in Victoria and South Australia both describe hourly rates and fixed rates as the common ways lawyers charge. The Victorian regulator lists these billing methods:
| Method | How it works | What it means for a contract review |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | A rate per hour, often charged in 6-minute units (some lawyers use 15-minute units). The rate can vary with the lawyer’s seniority | The final bill depends on the time spent. Ask for an estimate of the hours and a cap |
| Fixed or agreed fee | An agreed amount for the whole matter, or for each stage | You know the price before you start. Ask exactly what is included |
| Item by item | A set fee for each item of work, common in court cases | Less common for a one-off review |
| Conditional (no win, no fee) | You pay depending on the outcome; it must be in a written agreement signed by both of you | Not usually relevant to reviewing a contract before you sign |
The regulator says “Most lawyers charge an hourly rate”, and that “You can negotiate your billing method (for example by asking for a fixed fee)”. With 6-minute units, an 8-minute phone call is charged as 12 minutes, so short calls and emails add up.
Disbursements
A lawyer’s bill has two parts: professional fees for the work, and disbursements, which are costs paid on your behalf, such as search fees, barrister’s fees or courier fees. Ask whether the quote includes them and GST.
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Your rights on legal costs
In NSW, Victoria and Western Australia the Legal Profession Uniform Law applies. A law practice must, when or soon after you first give instructions, give you information about “the basis on which legal costs will be calculated” and “an estimate of the total legal costs” (s 174(1)), in writing (s 174(6)). It must also tell you about your right to negotiate a costs agreement and the billing method, to receive a bill and request an itemised bill, and to get help from the regulator if there is a dispute (s 174(2)). Below a lower threshold, no disclosure is needed (s 174(4)).
The Victorian regulator sets out how that works in practice:
| Likely legal costs (Victoria) | What the lawyer must give you |
|---|---|
| Under $750 | No written costs disclosure required, but you can ask for one |
| $750 to $3,000 | A written costs disclosure: the work, the expected cost, disbursements, GST and your rights |
| More than $3,000 | A more detailed written disclosure |
In South Australia, the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner says that if the work “will likely cost more than $1,500” the lawyer must give a written estimate, including the likely total and how they will charge, such as “hourly rates, fixed rates etc”.
If the lawyer did not give an estimate
Under the Uniform Law, if a law practice breaks the disclosure rules, any costs agreement is void and you do not have to pay until the costs have been assessed or the dispute decided (s 178). You can ask for an itemised bill within 30 days after the costs become payable, and the practice must give it within 21 days (s 187). Our guide to disputing a lawyer’s bill covers complaints and time limits.
What to ask before a lawyer reviews your contract
The Victorian regulator suggests asking at the first meeting whether the consultation is charged, how much the work will cost in total, how fees are calculated, what extra costs there may be, whether costs could change, and when you will be billed. For a contract review, also ask:
- Is it a fixed fee? And does it cover written advice, a marked-up copy of the contract, and a follow-up call?
- Does it include negotiating with the other side? Back-and-forth with the other party’s lawyer is often charged separately.
- Who will do the work, and at what hourly rate if the job grows?
- How quickly? If you have a signing deadline or a cooling-off period running, say so at the start.
- What is excluded? For example tax advice, searches or attachments the contract refers to.
Send the full contract, including schedules and any documents it refers to, and a short note of what worries you. A focused question usually takes less time to answer than “please check everything”.
A lawyer’s review vs a $49 plain-English review
They do different jobs. Here is an honest comparison:
| Lawyer | Claim Done contract review | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Set by the lawyer: hourly or fixed fee, quoted in advance | $49 flat |
| Turnaround | Depends on the lawyer | Usually about 5 minutes after you pay |
| Legal advice on your situation | Yes | No. It explains what the contract says; it does not advise you |
| Tells you whether to sign | Can advise you on that | No. You decide |
| Negotiates or acts for you | Yes, if engaged to | No. It gives you questions to raise yourself |
| Regulated as legal practice | Yes, with a complaints regulator in each state | No. Claim Done is not a law firm |
| What you get | Advice, and often a marked-up contract | A plain-English report flagging the clauses, fees and risks that matter |
You can use a plain-English review first to understand the contract and decide whether you need a lawyer, then take the flagged points to a lawyer. That can help keep a lawyer’s time focused on the points that matter to you, although we cannot promise it will lower a lawyer’s bill.
When you should pay for a lawyer
- the contract involves a lot of money, your home, or a personal guarantee
- you need advice on your own circumstances, or on whether to sign
- you want changes negotiated with the other side
- there is already a dispute, a deadline or a court or tribunal matter
- a law requires independent legal advice, or a certificate from a lawyer, before you can waive a right
If cost is the barrier, the Victorian regulator points to the Law Institute of Victoria’s referral service. Legal aid commissions and community legal centres in each state may also help. Other states have their own legal aid commissions and community legal centres.
What our review checks
Upload the contract (PDF, Word or clear photos of every page), choose which side you are on, and get a plain-English report, usually about 5 minutes after you pay. It:
- starts with the three things that matter most, in plain English
- sets out the money: fees, penalties, break costs and other trigger points
- flags terms that may be one-sided, strict or costly, and protections that are missing
- lists key dates and deadlines, and how you can get out of the contract
- gives you questions to ask and points to negotiate, for the other side or a lawyer
It is not legal advice and does not replace a lawyer. Claim Done is not a law firm.
Get my contract reviewed – $49
Questions people ask
How much does a lawyer charge to review a contract in Australia?
There is no standard price and no official published rate. It depends on the time the work takes, how complex the contract is, who does the work and the type of service. Ask for a fixed fee or a written estimate before you send the contract.
Do lawyers charge by the hour or a fixed fee to review a contract?
Either. The Victorian regulator says most lawyers charge an hourly rate, often in 6-minute units, and that you can negotiate your billing method, for example by asking for a fixed fee. A fixed fee lets you know the cost before work starts.
Does a lawyer have to tell me the cost upfront?
In NSW, Victoria and WA, the Uniform Law requires a written disclosure of how costs are calculated and an estimate of total costs, above a low threshold. The Victorian regulator puts that threshold at $750, excluding GST and disbursements. In South Australia a written estimate is required if the work will likely cost more than $1,500.
What is a costs disclosure?
It is the lawyer’s written statement of how they will charge you and an estimate of the total cost. It should also tell you your rights, including to negotiate the costs agreement and billing method and to ask for an itemised bill.
What are 6-minute units?
A way of charging time under an hourly rate. Time is rounded up to the next 6 minutes, so an 8-minute phone call is charged as 12 minutes. Some lawyers use 15-minute units, so ask.
What are disbursements?
Costs a lawyer pays on your behalf and passes on, such as search fees, barrister’s fees or courier fees. They are separate from the lawyer’s professional fees, so check whether a quote includes them.
Can I negotiate a lawyer’s fee?
Yes. Under the Uniform Law you have a right to negotiate a costs agreement and the billing method, and the lawyer must tell you about that right. You can ask for a fixed fee, a cap, or billing at set stages.
What if my lawyer did not give me a cost estimate?
Under the Uniform Law, if a law practice breaks the disclosure rules, any costs agreement is void and you do not have to pay until the costs have been assessed or the dispute decided (s 178). Raise it with the lawyer first, then the regulator.
Can I ask for an itemised bill?
Yes. Under the Uniform Law you can request an itemised bill within 30 days after the legal costs become payable, and the law practice must provide it within 21 days (s 187).
Is a $49 contract review the same as a lawyer’s review?
No. It is a plain-English report that explains what the contract says and flags the clauses that matter. It is not legal advice, it does not tell you whether to sign, and nobody negotiates for you. A lawyer can advise on your situation and act for you.
When should I pay a lawyer instead?
When the contract involves a lot of money, your home or a personal guarantee, when you need advice on your own circumstances or changes negotiated, or when there is already a dispute or a deadline.
Is the contract review legal advice?
No. It is a plain-English report that explains what your contract says and what to ask. It is not legal advice. Claim Done is not a law firm.
Related guides
- How to get a contract reviewed before you sign
- Can I get out of a contract I signed?
- Lawyer overcharged you? How to dispute a legal bill
- Unfair contract terms for small business
Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice; this page is general information as at 9 November 2026. Fees are set by each lawyer, and the cost disclosure rules differ outside NSW, Victoria and WA.
Sources (checked 9 November 2026)
- Legal Profession Uniform Law (WA consolidation; the text is common to NSW, Victoria and WA) (ss 174, 178, 187)
- Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner: how we assess if your bill is fair and reasonable
- Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner: get your lawyer’s costs in writing (last updated 3 October 2025); how do lawyers charge for their services? (last updated 6 February 2025); six questions to ask about legal costs
- Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner (SA): legal costs
What happens when you put it in writing — properly
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can Claim Done review my contract for me?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) reviews an Australian business contract you upload and returns a plain-English report for a flat $49 AUD, usually within about five minutes of payment. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=contract-review. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a contract review cost, and how long does it take?
$49 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. It covers every Australian state and territory.
What does the contract review report cover?
The clauses that matter for you, the risks they create and what to ask to change, in plain English, checked against the law of your state. It is a document review, not legal advice.