Fee Structure

I only represent private fee paying clients. I do not undertake legal aid cases.

All clients or potential clients have an initial consultation with me. At your initial consultation we will discuss your case. You can explain what happened and ask questions and I will provide legal advice. I will let you know the options as I see them and my opinion on the best things to do. At the end of the consultation you have the choice whether you wish to engage me to represent you as your lawyer or, pay the consultation fee for the advice and legal opinion that you have received and go elsewhere.

Legal Services Fee Agreement

If you wish me to be your lawyer we will prepare a Legal Services Fee Agreement which you take home with you. The Agreement details:

• what I will do for you to resolve your case;
• the amount of the legal fee which will either be a fixed fee for an agreed amount, or an estimated fee based on time for the work and costs involved in resolving your case;
• a payment plan setting out amounts and dates when payments are required.

In most cases I can agree a fixed fee for the case. In complex cases this may not be possible and I will provide a fee estimate, a payment plan for the first stages of the case, and bill you regularly on a time spent basis.

The fee agreement will require retainer payments before the case is completed. All payments are banked into the Karen Harding Law Trust Account. The funds can only be accessed for work done and for which an invoice has been issued to the client. The trust fund is audited by New Zealand Law Society Inspectors.

We accept payment by all the normal commercial methods, cash, cheque, eftpos and credit cards.