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18 June 2025
Issue: 8121 / Categories: Legal News , Legal services , Divorce , Conveyancing , Wills & Probate
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Private law price comparisons published

Clients are paying more for legal services, but have more pricing transparency and a greater selection of remote options available

That’s the conclusion of the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) ‘Prices of individual legal services in England and Wales’ survey across 1,500 providers, published this week.

For straightforward divorce cases, about 65–74% of providers offer their services remotely, compared to 32% in 2020.

Price transparency has ‘significantly improved’ in conveyancing with 88% of conveyancers displaying their prices on their website, compared to 47% of divorce lawyers and 62% of wills, trusts, probate and estate administration services providers. 

For the cheapest divorce—about £750—go to Wales or Northern England. For assistance with estate administration where probate has been granted, try the Midlands and South-East England for value, at about £3,600.

Samuel Omolade, LSB head of strategy and research, said: ‘The LSB will continue to push for greater price transparency across the sector, making it easier for people to shop around, find prices and compare services.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Ken Fowlie, Stowe Family Law

NLJ Career Profile: Ken Fowlie, Stowe Family Law

Ken Fowlie, chairman of Stowe Family Law, reflects on more than 30 years in legal services after ‘falling into law’

Gardner Leader—Michelle Morgan & Catherine Morris

Gardner Leader—Michelle Morgan & Catherine Morris

Regional law firm expands employment team with partner and senior associate hires

Freeths—Carly Harwood & Tom Newton

Freeths—Carly Harwood & Tom Newton

Nottinghamtrusts, estates and tax team welcomes two senior associates

NEWS
Children can claim for ‘lost years’ damages in personal injury cases, the Supreme Court has held in a landmark judgment
The cab-rank rule remains a bulwark of the rule of law, yet lawyers are increasingly judged by their clients’ causes. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian McDougall, president of the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation, warns that conflating representation with endorsement is a ‘clear and present danger’
Holiday lets may promise easy returns, but restrictive covenants can swiftly scupper plans. Writing in NLJ this week, Andrew Francis of Serle Court recounts how covenants limiting use to a ‘private dwelling house’ or ‘private residence’ have repeatedly defeated short-term letting schemes
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already embedded in the civil courts, but regulation lags behind practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Ben Roe of Baker McKenzie charts a landscape where AI assists with transcription, case management and document handling, yet raises acute concerns over evidence, advocacy and even judgment-writing
The Supreme Court has drawn a firm line under branding creativity in regulated markets. In Dairy UK Ltd v Oatly AB, it ruled that Oatly’s ‘post-milk generation’ trade mark unlawfully deployed a protected dairy designation. In NLJ this week, Asima Rana of DWF explains that the court prioritised ‘regulatory clarity over creative branding choices’, holding that ‘designation’ extends beyond product names to marketing slogans
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