What questions should I ask a lawyer before hiring them?
By SuLe · Updated 5 July 2026
Before hiring a lawyer, ask how many deals like yours they closed last year, who will actually do your work, whether they can fix or cap the fee, whether that fee includes VAT, and how they will keep you updated. Confirm they are SRA-regulated, and check what the engagement letter says about scope and who the client is. Good answers are specific; vague ones are a warning.
Key facts
- Ask about relevant deal volume, who does the work, fixed-fee availability, VAT, responsiveness and SRA regulation.
- Legal fees carry VAT at 20% — ask whether a quote is inclusive or exclusive.
- Your engagement letter must set out scope, who the client is, fees and complaint rights — ask to see it.
- "Solicitor" is a protected title; confirm SRA regulation and insurance on the public register.
- Ask who the client is — the company or you personally — because it matters in a founder dispute.
What questions cut to whether they're right for me?
The ones about relevant experience and who does the work. Start with the most revealing: "How many deals like mine did you close last year?" Volume in your specific type of matter is hard to fake.
Then ask who will actually handle your work day to day. At larger firms the person who pitches is often not the person who drafts, and you want to know — and ideally meet — whoever does.
Finally, ask about responsiveness. A concrete answer about turnaround times tells you whether a founder-sized matter will get attention or sit at the bottom of a pile.
What should I ask about cost?
Three things: can you fix or cap the fee, what is in and out of scope, and does the number include VAT. These prevent almost every fee dispute before it starts.
VAT catches founders out constantly. UK legal fees carry VAT at 20%, so a "£1,200" quote is really £1,440 to your account. Always ask whether a figure is inclusive or exclusive before you compare firms.
For hourly work, ask for a written estimate and a not-to-exceed cap. A lawyer who cannot give even a rough range for a scoped job is telling you something about how they run matters.
| Question | Why it matters | A good answer sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| "How many deals like mine last year?" | Tests relevant experience | A specific number, not "we do lots" |
| "Who does the day-to-day work?" | Avoids partner-price, junior-work | A named, contactable lawyer |
| "Can you fix or cap the fee?" | Cost certainty | A fixed fee or cap, in writing |
| "Does that include VAT?" | Avoids a 20% surprise | Clear inclusive/exclusive figure |
| "Who is the client — company or me?" | Matters in a founder dispute | A clear, explained answer |
What should the engagement letter tell me?
Everything that governs the relationship. Before work starts you should receive an engagement letter setting out scope, who the client is, fees and billing, and your complaint rights — ask to see it.
The "who is the client" point is easy to overlook and important. Usually the company is the client, not you personally, so the lawyer acts for the business rather than for you against a co-founder. In a founder dispute that distinction suddenly matters a great deal.
Read the scope carefully. The commonest fee argument starts with "we assumed that was extra", and the engagement letter is where in-scope and out-of-scope are meant to be pinned down.
What confirms they're regulated and accountable?
The SRA register. "Solicitor" is a protected title, so a genuine solicitor is regulated by the SRA, carries compulsory professional indemnity insurance, and appears on the public register — check it before you instruct.
Ask, or confirm, that there is a complaints route. Service complaints go to the firm first and then, if unresolved, to the Legal Ombudsman; conduct concerns go to the SRA. That backstop exists only for regulated lawyers.
Regulation also gives you legal advice privilege — the ability to keep advice confidential in a dispute — which non-lawyer advisers cannot offer. It is a reason the "are you SRA-regulated?" question is not a formality.
Worked example
Priyanka is hiring a lawyer to set up Bazaaro Ltd, a marketplace startup she runs with a co-founder. She works through a short checklist on the first call rather than just accepting a quote.
She learns the £1,200 quote is exclusive of VAT, so the real cost is £1,200 + £240 = £1,440, and asks for it fixed and in writing. She confirms the solicitor is on the SRA register, and asks who the client is — the company, not her personally, which she notes matters given she has a co-founder. Because she asked before instructing, there were no surprises later: the fee held, the scope was clear, and she knew exactly who her lawyer did and did not act for.
Where founders go wrong
Not asking about VAT
— a quote exclusive of 20% VAT is a fifth higher than it looks.Assuming the pitcher does the work
— ask who handles your matter day to day, and meet them.Skipping the engagement letter
— scope, fees and who the client is all live there; read it before signing.Never checking the SRA register
— it confirms the protected title, insurance and a complaints route in minutes.
Related questions
What's the single best question to ask a startup lawyer?
How many deals like mine did you close last year? Relevant volume is hard to fake and tells you more than any pitch. A lawyer who closes seed rounds or option schemes every month will handle yours faster and spot more than a capable generalist who rarely does that work. [More: How do I choose a startup lawyer in the UK?]
What should I ask about fees?
Ask whether they can fix or cap the fee, what is in and out of scope, and — crucially — whether the number includes VAT. UK legal fees carry VAT at 20%, so a £1,200 quote is really £1,440. Getting the scope and VAT clear up front prevents almost every fee dispute. [More: Fixed fee vs hourly — how should startups buy legal work?]
Who is the client — me or my company?
Ask directly, because it matters in a founder dispute. Usually the company is the client, not you personally, which means the lawyer acts for the business and not for you against a co-founder. Knowing this early avoids a painful surprise if founders later fall out.
How do I confirm a lawyer is regulated?
Check the SRA's public register. "Solicitor" is a protected title, so a genuine solicitor is SRA-regulated and insured, and there is a complaints route through the firm and then the Legal Ombudsman. If you cannot find them on the register, do not instruct them.
The right questions before you instruct save you the disputes founders most often have with their lawyers — over cost, scope and who the lawyer actually acts for. A SuLe solicitor will answer all of them plainly, in writing, before you commit to anything. Book a free 15-minute consultation
Keep reading: How do I choose a startup lawyer in the UK? · How much do startup lawyers cost in the UK? · Fixed fee vs hourly — how should startups buy legal work? · When should a startup first speak to a lawyer? · Do I need a lawyer for my seed round? · What legal work can founders safely DIY?
Primary sources: Solicitors Regulation Authority · Legal Ombudsman
