Lawyer fees in Barcelona, explained before any work starts
Ajuridic does not publish a fee scale: before any work starts, it tells you the scope and the fees for your matter, and you decide whether to go ahead. To take the first step, the first guidance visit is at no charge*.
Noemí Ampurdanés Parés, a lawyer registered with the ICAB under no. 22359, with over 30 years in practice.
First visit
€0*
initial guidance
First visit at no charge*
- Initial guidance on your matter
- At the office, by telephone or by video call
- You then decide whether to go ahead
*The first visit at no charge covers an initial consultation to discuss the case. It does not include prior document review. If that review is needed, or the matter concerns employment or criminal law, a fee may apply. The firm will disclose the scope and amount beforehand; the client decides whether to accept.
What it includes and what it does notHow much does a lawyer cost in Barcelona?
It depends on the matter. Reviewing a contract does not cost the same as taking a case to trial with expert evidence, which is why Ajuridic does not publish a general fee scale. Before any work starts, the firm tells you the scope and the fees, and you decide whether to accept.
What the fee depends on
How complex the matter is
How many issues need resolving, how many parties are involved and how much legal work it requires.
The paperwork
Reading a notice is not the same as studying a complete file or an estate with several assets.
The route
A submission to a public authority does not involve the same work as court proceedings.
Urgency
If a time limit is about to expire, the work has to be done in less time.
With that information, the firm tells you the scope and the fees before any work starts, and you decide whether to accept.
Is the first consultation free?
It depends. The first visit is an initial guidance consultation at no charge*, unless documents need to be studied or the matter concerns employment or criminal law. In those cases a fee may apply, and the firm tells you the scope and amount beforehand; you decide whether to accept.
What it includes
- Initial guidance on your matter: listening to what has happened and identifying the type of matter
- Telling you the next step
- Explaining the costs, the fees and the process
If you bring documents, they are looked at only to give you general guidance; a detailed review is not included.
When a fee may apply
- If prior document review is needed
- If the matter concerns employment law
- If the matter concerns criminal law
When confirming the appointment, the firm tells you whether the visit is at no charge or whether, because of the type of matter, a fee applies; in that case, it tells you the scope and amount beforehand, and you decide whether to accept. Document review is not included in the visit at no charge.
First visit at no charge*
*The first visit at no charge covers an initial consultation to discuss the case. It does not include prior document review. If that review is needed, or the matter concerns employment or criminal law, a fee may apply. The firm will disclose the scope and amount beforehand; the client decides whether to accept.
How do I book the first visit?
Choose a day and time in the appointment calendar, or call or message us on WhatsApp on 614 26 26 92. A calendar request is a proposal: the firm replies by email to confirm it.
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Propose a day and time
In the appointment calendar, choose a day that suits you. It is a proposal, not a booking: the firm replies by email.
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The firm confirms the appointment
When confirming the appointment, the firm tells you whether the visit is at no charge or whether, because of the type of matter, a fee applies; in that case, it tells you the scope and amount beforehand, and you decide whether to accept. Document review is not included in the visit at no charge.
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Initial guidance
At the office, by telephone or by video call. If you bring documents, they are looked at only to give you general guidance; a detailed review is not included.
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If you decide to go ahead
The firm tells you the scope of the engagement and the fees before any work starts, and you decide whether to accept. If the scope changes, you are told before work continues.
Choose a day for your first visit
When confirming the appointment, the firm tells you whether the visit is at no charge or whether, because of the type of matter, a fee applies; in that case, it tells you the scope and amount beforehand, and you decide whether to accept.
How are fees agreed?
Before any work starts. If, after the initial guidance, you decide to instruct the firm, it tells you the scope and the fees and you decide whether to accept; if the scope changes, you are told before work continues. Third-party costs and legal costs are given as estimates, and the engagement is recorded in an engagement letter.
What do you need now?
€0*First visit at no charge*
*The first visit at no charge covers an initial consultation to discuss the case. It does not include prior document review. If that review is needed, or the matter concerns employment or criminal law, a fee may apply. The firm will disclose the scope and amount beforehand; the client decides whether to accept.
Request your first visitQuote firstNeed us to review documents first?
You can request a quote for an advance review. The firm tells you the scope and the fees before any work starts, and you decide whether to accept. Normally, the scope and amount of the document review are explained to you at the first visit, once your matter is understood. If preparing the quote were to involve a charge, you would be told beforehand.
Do not send any documents until you have received the quote and accepted it.
Request a quoteWhat is an engagement letter?
It is the document in which you and the lawyer set out in writing what is being entrusted, which actions it covers and what the fees are. Spain's General Statute of the Legal Profession requires lawyers to inform clients of fees and costs before starting, preferably through an engagement letter (hoja de encargo).
Before work starts
The lawyer must inform you of fees and costs through the engagement letter or an equivalent means (General Statute of the Spanish Legal Profession, arts. 27 and 48.4).
The risk of costs, too
The lawyer must explain what a costs order could mean and its approximate amount (art. 48.4).
An itemised invoice
The invoice must itemise the fees and list the expenses (art. 28).
A prior quote
The Catalan Consumer Code (Law 22/2010, art. 251-3.2) requires a prior quote for consumers who cannot work out the price themselves, unless they waive it expressly, in handwriting and with their signature. The Barcelona Bar Association (ICAB) includes this in its guide to engagement letters.
What other costs can a matter involve?
Besides the firm's fees, some matters involve third-party costs. Not all of them do; when they arise, they are given separately as estimates, together with the possible risk of legal costs if there is a trial.
Court representative (procurador)
Represents the party before the court in proceedings that require one.
Expert witness
Only when a technical point must be proven: damage, an injury, a valuation.
Notary and land registry
Deeds, inheritances, property sales and registrations.
Fees and taxes
Some administrative procedures and some transactions carry them.
Translations
When documents written in another language have to be submitted.
Legal costs
In some proceedings, though not all, the losing party may be ordered to pay the other side's costs of the proceedings, such as their lawyer's and court representative's fees. It depends on the type of proceedings and on the judgment; the firm explains the risk and its approximate amount before any work starts.
Prepare for your visit with the free tools
They work in your browser, with no sign-up. They help you arrive at the first visit with the time limit checked and your papers in order.
What to do about a fine in Barcelona
Identify the authority, compare payment and representations, gather evidence and find the official procedure.
Open the interactive guidePrepare for an immigration procedure
Organise your consultation and gather information to check. A printable sheet with tick boxes and official sources, without entering personal details.
Prepare my consultationTime limit checker
Eleven time limits covering fines, employment, injury and inheritance. Enter the starting date and you get an indicative date and how many days are left. Always confirm the time limit with a lawyer.
Check a time limitDocument checklist
The list of papers for six procedures (inheritance, dismissal, immigration, accident, family matters and medical negligence), tickable and printable so you can bring it already gone through.
Open the checklistRedundancy and dismissal compensation calculator
Enter the length of service, the salary and the classification of the dismissal, and out comes the indicative compensation with its breakdown: the 33 days per year, the regime for contracts predating 2012 and the caps that apply.
Open the calculatorHow much am I entitled to after an accident?
The amount depends on the injuries, lasting effects, documented expenses and the insurer’s offer. See what affects the amount and what to do first.
See what the figure depends onCosts of buying and selling a home
What is paid on top of the price: ITP or VAT depending on whether the home is second-hand or new, AJD, notary's fees, Land Registry, gestoría and valuation, with the split between buyer and seller and the items that are not taxes and throw the figure out just the same.
See the costs, item by itemWhat would you like guidance on?
Choose an area to see how the firm works, or book an appointment with the matter already selected.
Family law
Wills, probate and inheritance
Book: Wills, probate and inheritance See the area: Wills, probate and inheritance
Immigration law
Medical negligence
Road traffic accidents
Book: Road traffic accidents See the area: Road traffic accidents
Civil liability
Property law
Employment law
In employment matters a fee may apply from the first visit; you are told beforehand.
Local authority law and fines
Book: Local authority law and fines See the area: Local authority law and fines
Frequently asked questions about fees
How much does a lawyer cost in Barcelona?
It depends on the matter: how complex it is, the paperwork to be studied, whether it is resolved before a public authority or in court, and how urgent it is. That is why Ajuridic does not publish a general fee scale: before any work starts, the firm tells you the scope and the fees, and you decide whether to accept.
Is the first consultation with a lawyer free?
It depends. At Ajuridic the first visit is an initial guidance consultation at no charge*, unless documents need to be studied or the matter concerns employment or criminal law. In those cases a fee may apply, and the firm discloses the scope and amount beforehand; you decide whether to accept.
What does the first visit at no charge* include?
Initial guidance on your matter: listening to what has happened and identifying the type of matter, telling you the next step and explaining the costs, the fees and the process. It does not include prior document review: if you bring documents, they are looked at only to give you general guidance.
Why does Ajuridic not publish its fees?
Because each matter has a different scope, and a general fee scale would not tell you what yours will cost. Lawyers' fees are freely agreed between lawyer and client; at Ajuridic, the firm tells you the scope and the fees before any work starts, and you decide whether to accept. If the scope changes, you are told before work continues.
What is an engagement letter?
It is the document that sets out in writing what is being entrusted, which actions it covers and what the fees are. Spain's General Statute of the Legal Profession requires lawyers to inform clients of fees and costs before starting, preferably through an engagement letter, and the Barcelona Bar Association (ICAB) recommends using one.
Will I get a quote before work starts?
Yes. The firm tells you the scope and the fees before any work starts, and you decide whether to accept; if the scope changes, you are told before work continues. Third-party costs and legal costs are given as estimates.
What costs can there be on top of the fees?
Depending on the matter, third-party costs: court representative (procurador), expert witness, notary and land registry, fees and taxes, and translations, which are given as estimates. In addition, in some proceedings, though not all, the losing party may be ordered to pay the other side's costs of the proceedings, such as their lawyer's and court representative's fees; it depends on the type of proceedings and on the judgment, and the firm explains the risk and its approximate amount before any work starts.
What if I cannot afford a lawyer?
If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may be entitled to free legal aid on grounds of insufficient means to litigate (Law 1/1996, arts. 2, 3 and 6). It is applied for through the Bar Association and depends on your income and circumstances; there are special rules, for example for victims of gender-based violence, workers in employment-court proceedings and assistance to people under arrest. Bar associations run free guidance services for applicants, with information on the requirements and help with the application (Law 1/1996, art. 22; General Statute of the Legal Profession, art. 30). If you think you may be entitled to it, mention it at the first visit.
Which languages do you work in?
We advise in Spanish, Catalan, English and Arabic (Arabic by prior appointment); support in Filipino on request, booking an appointment in advance.
Start with initial guidance
Tell us what has happened and how soon action is needed. We are at Carrer del Freser, 104, in El Clot.
First visit at no charge*
*The first visit at no charge covers an initial consultation to discuss the case. It does not include prior document review. If that review is needed, or the matter concerns employment or criminal law, a fee may apply. The firm will disclose the scope and amount beforehand; the client decides whether to accept.