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УкраїнськаHow much does legal advice from an advocate or legal adviser cost? 2026 price list
indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index
Legal advice from an advocate or legal adviser in Poland most often costs PLN 300 for one meeting lasting 30 to 60 minutes (typically PLN 200 ‑ 300). The median price of an initial consultation with an advocate is PLN 325. Drafting documents, representation in court and handling a case are charged separately, while people in financial difficulty can use free legal assistance.
At a glance (as at 5 October 2026)
- Legal advice from an advocate or legal adviser usually costs PLN 200 ‑ 300 per meeting, while the median from 5 law firm price lists collected by indekscen.pl is PLN 300.
- According to law firm price lists, an initial consultation with an advocate costs around PLN 325.
- The cheapest legal consultation in our sources costs PLN 190, while the most expensive costs PLN 400.
- When billed by the hour, an advocate's rate is around 250 PLN/h, while handling an entire court case for a fixed fee costs around PLN 3,000.
- Free legal advice at county assistance points costs nothing for anyone who submits a declaration that they cannot afford paid legal assistance.
The first meeting with a lawyer is usually the least expensive stage of a case, yet many people put it off because they are worried about the cost. However, most law firms charge a fixed, clearly stated price for legal advice, which can establish whether the matter is worth taking to court at all. We collected rates from advocate and legal adviser firms’ price lists to show how much a consultation costs and how much you may pay for the steps that follow.
How much does a lawyer charge for advice?
According to 5 law firm price lists collected by indekscen.pl, a lawyer most often charges PLN 300 for one legal consultation, while half of the rates fall within PLN 200 ‑ 300. The cheapest consultation in our sources costs PLN 190, while the most expensive costs PLN 400. All sources and quotations are available on the legal advice page.
The price of a consultation usually includes one meeting lasting 30 to 60 minutes: discussing the situation, assessing the prospects and providing an initial recommendation on what to do next. It does not include drafting documents or contracts, representation in court or further handling of the case.
How much does legal advice from an advocate or legal adviser cost?
According to law firm price lists, legal advice from an advocate costs around PLN 325 for an initial consultation, typically starting from PLN 190. Legal advisers’ fees fall within the same PLN 200 ‑ 300 range as the overall median for legal advice. Our data does not indicate that either profession is consistently less expensive than the other.
Price differences are driven by factors other than professional title:
- City: rates are higher in Warsaw, while in Katowice and smaller towns they are closer to the lower end of the range.
- Length of the meeting: 30 minutes costs less than a full hour.
- Complexity of the case: a simple tenancy agreement is quite different from an inheritance dispute involving several properties.
- Format: a meeting at the office, online or by telephone.
- The firm’s specialisation: lawyers with a narrow specialisation charge more, but usually get to the heart of the matter faster.
Is a legal adviser cheaper than an advocate?
A legal adviser is not necessarily cheaper than an advocate: both groups charge similar fees for advice, usually PLN 200 ‑ 300. In civil, family and commercial matters, advocates and legal advisers have effectively the same powers, so choose based on experience in your type of case rather than professional title. In criminal cases, make sure that the person is authorised to act as defence counsel.
How much does an initial appointment with a legal adviser cost?
An initial appointment with a legal adviser usually costs the same as a standard consultation, namely PLN 200 ‑ 300, with a median of PLN 300. Some firms charge less for the first meeting or deduct its cost from the fee for subsequently handling the case. It is worth asking about this when booking the appointment.
To make your initial consultation worth the price, prepare in advance:
- Write a brief chronology of events, including dates.
- Bring documents: contracts, letters from a court or public authority, and correspondence.
- Write down the questions you want answered.
- At the end, ask about the cost of the next steps: documents, hearings and the entire case.
Legal advice online or at a law firm?
Online legal advice usually costs about the same as a meeting at a law firm, namely PLN 200 ‑ 300, because you are paying for the lawyer’s time and expertise, not the office. A video or telephone consultation saves you a journey and allows you to choose a specialist from another city, which can be important in less common matters, such as aviation law or inheritance abroad.
An in-person meeting is preferable when there are many documents or the case is emotionally difficult. For a remote consultation, send scans in advance so the lawyer has time to read them before the call, rather than during the time you are paying for. Also be wary of services advertising “free online advice”: this is usually a brief initial assessment, while a full answer requires payment.
How much does a legal adviser or advocate charge for a court case?
Representation in court costs many times more than a consultation: according to law firm price lists, handling an entire court case for a fixed fee costs around PLN 3,000, while representation in a civil or commercial case costs around PLN 2,500. When billed by the hour, an advocate’s rate is around 250 PLN/h. Court fees must be added to the lawyer’s fee.
| Lawyer’s service | Price according to price lists | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Legal advice (30 to 60 minutes) | PLN 200 ‑ 300 | median PLN 300 |
| Initial consultation with an advocate | around PLN 325 | sometimes deducted from the fee for the case |
| Advocate’s hourly rate | around 250 PLN/h | usually for businesses and complex cases |
| Civil or commercial case | around PLN 2,500 | excluding court fees |
| Entire court case, fixed fee | around PLN 3,000 | depending on the number of hearings |
| No-fault divorce, advocate | around PLN 4,000 | details in the article about divorce |
| Criminal defence, preparatory proceedings | around PLN 5,000 | priced individually |
We explain the total cost of divorce, including fees, in the article how much does a divorce cost, and the cost of debt relief in personal bankruptcy: costs.
Who is entitled to a free legal adviser?
Free legal advice is available to anyone who cannot afford paid legal assistance and submits a written declaration confirming this. It is provided through Poland’s free legal assistance system at points operated by counties (powiats), usually in county offices and municipal offices. Advice is provided there by advocates and legal advisers, and appointments usually need to be booked by telephone.
At such a point, you will receive information about your rights and obligations, guidance on how to resolve the problem and help with preparing a draft of a simple document. You will not receive representation in court. The county office or municipal office can provide the address of the nearest point. By contrast, legal aid for a specific court case is granted by the court upon application, after assessing the applicant’s financial circumstances.
Could mediation or a tax adviser replace legal advice?
Mediation usually costs PLN 215 ‑ 240 per session and works well when the parties want to reach an agreement without lengthy proceedings, for example in family or neighbour disputes. However, a mediator does not advise either party, so it is still worth consulting a lawyer about the terms before reaching a settlement. For tax matters, a tax adviser may be a better choice and usually charges 400 ‑ 450 PLN/h.
| Service | Median | Typically | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal advice | PLN 300 | PLN 200 ‑ 300 | 5 |
| Mediation | PLN 225 | PLN 215 ‑ 240 | 2 |
| Tax adviser | 450 PLN/h | 400 ‑ 450 PLN/h | 7 |
Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.
If you need a notarial deed, for example when gifting a flat, we explain the costs in the article how much does a notary cost.
How can you avoid overpaying for legal assistance?
- Ask about the consultation fee when booking and whether it will be deducted from the fee for the case.
- Request a written quote for the next steps: a fixed fee for the entire case, a fee per hearing or an hourly rate.
- Check whether prices are net (excl. VAT) or gross (incl. VAT): some firms quote amounts excluding VAT.
- Compare two or three firms if the matter is not urgent.
- Start with a free legal assistance point if your budget is tight: you will find out whether the matter requires a lawyer.
This article presents service prices, not legal advice. Consult an advocate or legal adviser about your own case. You can find more prices in this field in the law and public authorities category.
„standardowa porada prawna u adwokata lub radcy prawnego kosztuje około 200-400 złotych”
kancelariakrs.pl, source
„Szacunkowy koszt porady prawnej dla Klienta indywidualnego wynosi 190 PLN brutto.”
km-law.pl, source
„Porada prawna 300 PLN”
krmp.pl, source
„Porada prawna | od 200 zł”
kancelariapytko.pl, source
The prices in this article come from publicly available law firm price lists and legal articles. Each entry on the how much does legal advice cost page includes its source, date and verbatim quotation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does legal advice online or by telephone cost?
Osobnej mediany dla porad online jeszcze nie mamy. Kancelarie, które je oferują, liczą zwykle podobnie jak za spotkanie w biurze, czyli w przedziale PLN 200 ‑ 300, czasem taniej za krótszą rozmowę.
Is the consultation fee deducted from the cost of handling the case?
W części kancelarii tak: jeśli po poradzie zlecisz prowadzenie sprawy, opłata za konsultację zostaje zaliczona na poczet wynagrodzenia. Zapytaj o to przed spotkaniem, bo przy poradzie za PLN 300 to realna oszczędność.
How much does it cost to have a legal adviser draft a document for court?
Sporządzenie pisma nie mieści się w cenie porady, która kosztuje około PLN 300, i jest wyceniane osobno. Osobnej mediany dla pism jeszcze nie mamy, dlatego poproś kancelarię o wycenę z góry, zanim zlecisz pracę.
How much does advice from a tax adviser cost?
Konsultacja u doradcy podatkowego kosztuje zwykle 400 ‑ 450 PLN/h, mediana to 450 PLN/h. W sprawach czysto podatkowych bywa lepszym wyborem niż ogólna porada prawna.
How much does defence in a criminal case cost?
Obrona w postępowaniu przygotowawczym kosztuje w cennikach kancelarii około PLN 5,000. Ostateczna kwota zależy od wagi zarzutów i liczby czynności, więc tu zawsze zaczyna się od porady i indywidualnej wyceny.
Check prices with sources
Every amount quoted in the article has a source, date and verbatim quote from the price list on the service page.
Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.
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