The 2013 Victorian Construction Pricing Report details market factors, trends and other matters relevant to the pricing of legal services as well as recorded and suggested pricing levels. It is compiled on the back of feedback from both solicitors practising within these areas and client referees.
A relatively quiet market in in front end construction matters and a continuation of Victoria’s tendency to display lower levels of contentious construction matters than other major Australian states saw pricing remain competitive and generally facing downward pressure.
Unlike many other areas of practice the Victorian construction legal market is yet to experience the fiercely aggressive pricing strategies adopted by the mid-tier. Certainly some mid-tier operators remain keenly priced however the $450 per level viewed as “market” in some other areas is far from it with respect to construction.
Within the larger national and international firms pricing levels varied substantially with the use of “junior” partners to manage and execute transactions overcoming the lofty hourly rates of some senior individuals.
Partner Hourly Rates Guide
Perth Employment & WHS Lawyers Pricing (Hourly Rates)
Hourly Rate Market Share $450 - $500 8% $500 - $550 11% $550 - $600 13% $600 - $650 27% $650 - $700 10% $700 - $750 25% $750 - $800 0% $800 - $850 5% $850 - $900 0% $900+ 2%
