The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has brought gloom to most of its clients after revising legal fees for its members, a move that will see members of the public paying up to $5 250 per hour for legal services and at least $18 000 to file for a divorce.
However, members of the public received the development with mixed feelings with most of the people interviewed by this publication expressing shock.
“The figures are just too much. I think this will see a number of legal experts losing a reasonable number of clients in the near future,” said Harare businessman Tawanda Chideme, one of the people who rely on legal expertise of LSZ membership.
In a statement, LSZ said legal practitioners are professionally and legally obliged to charge fees for legal work which are fair and reasonable in all the circumstances.
The new tariffs are for general professional services which include drafting, court attendance, taking instructions and telephone calls and do not cover fees in civil litigation, conveyancing fees, collection commissions and deceased estate administration fees.
According to the new tariffs, uncontested divorce with or without consent paper, with minimal negotiations and including appearance in Court, where necessary, will now cost plaintiff ZWL$18 000 and defendant ZWL$12 000.
LSZ said basic hourly charges vary according to years of experience.
“Unregistered law graduates whose names are recorded by the Law Society are expected to charge $900 while those with less than one-year experience will charge $1 800,” read the circular.
Those who have been in the practice for five to nine years will be charging $2 250 while those with 10–14 years experience will charge $3 150.
“Legal practitioners with 15 to 19 years of experience will be expected to charge $4 050 while those with 20 to 29 years will be charging $4 650. Those with over 30 years’ experience will charge $5 250.”
Other services like agreement of sale for a residential property or farm will cost $7 500 or one percent of the selling price, whichever is the greater while agreement of sale for a business or shares will cost $12 000 or two percent of the selling price, whichever is the greater.
Experts have warned of a massive loss of clients within the following weeks due to exorbitant fees
