Clear, professional fee arrangements for specialist family law advice and representation. Seema Kansal offers a fixed-fee Strategic Legal Reality Check consultation and provides personalised written quotations for all further work — whether instructed by solicitors or directly through Public Access.
Fixed Fee Consultation
This fixed-fee consultation is designed to give you a clear, professional assessment of your situation at the earliest stage. Suitable for:
Every family law case is different. The work required — and therefore the fees — depends on a range of factors:
Seema Kansal’s approach is straightforward: before any chargeable work begins, you receive a clear written quotation setting out the proposed scope of work and the fee. There are no hidden costs and no unexpected invoices for work that has not been agreed in advance.
This transparency applies equally to solicitor-instructed work and to Public Access instructions. Clients know what they are paying for and why, before they commit.
Fees are calculated according to the specific work required. A personalised written quotation is always provided after assessing the case.
The fixed-fee Strategic Legal Reality Check (£350–£500 excluding VAT) provides an early, focused assessment of the case.
Formal written advice on discrete legal issues, the merits of an application or defence, or overall strategy. Quotation provided once the scope is clear.
Drafting of statements, position statements, applications, consent orders, skeleton arguments and other key documents. Fees reflect complexity and length.
Advocacy at interim hearings, FDR appointments, contested final hearings and urgent applications. Fee depends on the nature of the hearing and preparation required.
Support during negotiations, advice on offers, and assistance in reaching a binding settlement. Quotation according to the level of involvement required.
Further conferences and longer contested hearings are quoted in advance, with brief fees and refresher fees confirmed in writing.
Public Access (also known as Direct Access) allows members of the public to instruct Seema Kansal directly, without first going through a solicitor.
Under Public Access, clients work directly with the barrister who will advise them and, if required, represent them in court. This can offer greater cost transparency and direct communication compared with the traditional solicitor-plus-barrister route.
How Public Access fees work:
• An initial suitability assessment is carried out at no charge
• A clear written quotation is provided for the proposed work
• Fees are usually fixed for defined pieces of work (advice, drafting, a specific hearing)
• Payment is required before the work begins, in accordance with the letter of engagement
Public Access does not mean every case is cheaper in absolute terms — complex or heavily contested matters still require significant preparation. However, by instructing the barrister directly for the advocacy and specialist advice elements, clients can often reduce overall legal costs by avoiding duplication of work.
Clients instruct Seema Kansal because they want specialist family law expertise combined with clear, professional fee arrangements.
She practises exclusively in family law from FOURTEEN Chambers at 14 Gray’s Inn Square, London, and has over 17 years of experience at the family Bar. She appears regularly in the Family Court, High Court and Court of Appeal in cases ranging from straightforward child arrangement disputes to complex, high-value financial remedy proceedings.
Strategic advice is central to her practice. Whether the matter is resolved by negotiation or requires contested advocacy, the focus is on realistic options, careful preparation and a clear plan. Legal concepts are explained in plain English so that clients understand both the strengths and the limitations of their position.
Transparent fees form part of that approach. Clients receive written quotations before work begins, and the scope of each instruction is clearly defined. This applies equally to solicitor-led instructions and to Public Access work.
Attention to detail and professional care run through every stage — from the initial consultation through to the final hearing or settlement.