Is $400 an hour a lot for a lawyer in Australia depends on area of law and experience, but $400 per hour is about average to slightly above average for mid-level lawyer in private practice in 2025-2026. In Australia, lawyer hourly rates vary widely. Junior lawyers 1-3 years charge $250 to $350 per hour, mid-level 4-7 years $350 to $500 per hour, senior associates 8+ years $500 to $700 per hour, partners $600 to $900 per hour, and top-tier partners in Sydney and Melbourne for corporate M&A, commercial litigation and construction can charge $800 to $1,200 per hour. For family law, rates are $350 to $550 per hour, for criminal law $300 to $500, for personal injury often no win no fee not hourly, for conveyancing fixed fee $1,000 to $2,500. So $400 per hour is not a lot for experienced lawyer, it is mid-range. For example, Legal Aid private lawyers charge $200 to $300, community legal centres free, suburban small firms $300 to $400, mid-tier firms like Slater and Gordon, Maurice Blackburn $400 to $600, top-tier firms like Allens, King & Wood Mallesons $700+. If you are quoted $400 per hour for senior family lawyer with 10 years experience in Sydney, that is reasonable. If quoted $400 for junior doing simple will or conveyancing, that is high. Always ask for fixed fee or capped fee, and check if GST included. So $400 is moderate, not excessive for private lawyer, but high compared to Legal Aid.
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