Frequently Asked Questions

Simmons Wolfhagen is committed to maintaining transparency and is always willing to discuss fee structures and potential costs with you in advance. This ensures there are no surprises and allows us to address any questions you might have.

The cost of legal representation can vary widely depending on several factors, including the type of case, the lawyer’s experience and the complexity of the matter. At Simmons Wolfhagen we charge in several common ways: 

Hourly Rates: Our lawyers bill by the hour (in increments of six (6) minute units). Hourly rates vary depending on the experience and expertise required. 

Flat Fees: For certain routine matters like drafting a simple will or conveyancing, we may charge a flat fee. 

No Win. No Fee: In some personal injury or motor vehicle accident claims, we may work on a contingency basis. This means we only get paid if you win the case. 

Retainers: For some matters, we may require a retainer fee upfront to secure services.

Additional third-party costs, such as court filing fees, expert witness fees, and administrative expenses, may also be incurred which will be payable by you in addition to our professional fees.

We offer a comprehensive range of legal services, and other than criminal and immigration law, we can assist you will almost any matter. As a guide we can help you with:

• Personal Injury – motor vehicle accident and workers compensation 
• Property – building, construction, development and conveyancing 
• Family Law – property matters, family violence, parenting and child support and pre-nuptial agreements 
• Employment & Workplace Relations – unfair dismissal, contract negotiations and enterprise agreements 
• Corporate & Commercial – negotiating contracts for small and big business, leasing, buying or selling assets 
• Wills & Estate Planning – power of attorney and guardianships, succession planning and executors 
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution – securities enforcement, commercial disputes and debt recovery 
• Building & Construction – contractual issues, consultation and advisory 
• Local Government & Planning – environment, enforcement, property, development and employment 
• Agribusiness – solutions for family farms and corporations across the rural sector.

After receiving the specifics of your matter, we can match you with a lawyer who specialises in the appropriate area of law.

Simmons Wolfhagen supports Tasmanians with expert legal advice. Established in Tasmania in 1845, we are 100% local, we are very experienced, and we listen to our clients.

With offices statewide in Hobart, Launceston, Kingston, Smithton and Scottsdale, our reputation is one of excellence including clear communication, and early resolution of matters.

Simmons Wolfhagen is composed of lawyers each specialising in different practice areas, enabling us to provide our clients with tailored legal representation. So, whether you’re buying a first home or investment, starting or growing a business, ensuring your financial affairs are in order, seeking compensation or looking to resolve a dispute, Simmons Wolfhagen’s broad range of legal services ensures we can support Tasmanians through every stage of their life or business cycle. 

Simmons Wolfhagen lawyers experience ranges from our graduate solicitors right through to Directors and Senior Counsel, many with over 30 years’ plus legal experience.  

It’s important that we match your particular circumstances to one of our lawyers with the right expertise. When making an enquiry, you should provide us with all the important details that you think might be useful for us to consider and allocate the most suitable lawyer to you. 

Once we have assessed the matter, we will contact you to organise a suitable time either to meet (in person, online via teams/zoom or by phone) or request further information if required. 

Being well prepared will assist the lawyer to give you the most appropriate advice at your initial meeting. You may want to bring along the following:  

• Relevant documents, these could include contracts, letters, email notices, court documents or financial records 
• Personal ID such as driver’s license or passport, if verification of identity is required
• A list of key facts to help the lawyer gain a quick overview of circumstances 
• Any questions you might have for the lawyer for example the legal process and fees 

At the conclusion of your initial consultation, Simmons Wolfhagen will provide a detailed Cost Agreement which overviews the service you can expect, the fees we will charge and the payment options available to you. 

The Cost Agreement should be read carefully, signed and returned to confirm your approval for Simmons Wolfhagen to act in your matter. 

The length of a civil law process can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the case, the willingness of parties to settle on terms or whether there needs to be court proceedings.  

For example, residential conveyancing (buying or selling your home) may only take 4 – 6 weeks, a lease transaction may take 1 week, personal injury claims against a business may take a long time to resolve, a family law matter may be resolved in several months whereas a small debt recovery could be resolved in a several weeks. 

At your initial meeting your lawyer will guide you through this process and discuss a likely timeline.  

At Simmons Wolfhagen we understand how important it is for our clients to be kept informed of their matter. 

Every lawyer and conveyancer make it their responsibility to ensure their clients receive regular updates on key milestones as their matter progresses.

In addition, there will always be someone at Simmons Wolfhagen that you can talk to when you need an update or further information in relation to your matter.  

We are very flexible with how we can communicate with you. Your initial enquiry can be via our website, a phone call or an email enquiry. 

Once we have your details and an understanding of your matter, we can meet with you in person, online via teams/zoom or a phone call. 

Generally, after the first meeting communications are either by phone or email (depending on the circumstances).