The Guideline Hourly Rates (GHR) continue to provide the principal benchmark for assessing reasonable and proportionate legal costs throughout England and Wales. For practitioners operating in Wiltshire, a clear understanding of how the guideline framework applies at a local level is essential for effective costs budgeting, billing and recovery. The current rate structure reflects a series of incremental increases intended to ensure the GHR remain aligned with contemporary legal practice, firm overheads, and prevailing market conditions.

The present framework builds on the reforms introduced in October 2021 and was subsequently refined following detailed analysis by the Civil Justice Council and its specialist working groups. These recommendations were approved by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, in his role as Head of Civil Justice, ensuring consistent judicial oversight of the costs regime.

Background to the guideline hourly rates 2026

The GHR system is designed to promote fairness, consistency, and proportionality in the assessment of legal costs, while preserving judicial discretion to reflect the circumstances of individual cases. Although the rates apply on a national basis, they are divided into bands to acknowledge regional differences in legal markets and operating costs.

The post-October 2021 reforms addressed long-standing concerns that earlier guideline rates had failed to keep pace with inflation and no longer reflected the realities of modern legal practice. Further increases were approved following extensive data collection from firms across England and Wales, including those practising in Wiltshire.

Wiltshire and the national band structure

Firms based in Wiltshire are generally categorised within National Band 1 for guideline purposes. Unlike London and its surrounding boroughs, Wiltshire does not fall within the London 1-3 bands, notwithstanding the county’s growing professional services sector and the presence of specialist legal work.

The National Band 1 classification reflects the balance struck by the guideline framework between recognising regional cost pressures and maintaining consistency outside London. This distinction is particularly important when preparing costs budgets and Bills of Costs, as the applicable guideline rates differ materially from those applied to firms in central and inner London.

Updated guideline hourly rates in Wiltshire

For Wiltshire firms within National Band 1, the current GHR (effective from 1 January 2026) are:

• Grade A: Solicitor or legal executive with over 8 years’ experience – £295
• Grade B: Solicitor or legal executive with over 4 years’ experience – £247
• Grade C: Other solicitors, legal executives, or equivalent fee earners – £201
• Grade D: Trainee solicitors, paralegals, and junior fee earners – £142

The rates form the starting point for summary assessment, detailed assessment, and costs management hearings. The 2026 rates represent an increase of 2.28% on the 2025 figures.

Applying the rates in practice

While highly influential, the guideline rates do not operate as absolute caps. The court may approve departures where appropriate. When applying the rates, practitioners should have regard to:

• The complexity and value of the dispute
• The expertise and seniority of the fee earners involved
• Whether the work is comparable to that undertaken in higher-cost legal markets
• Overall proportionality

Any proposed departure should be clearly justified within a Precedent H costs budget or a Bill of Costs, enabling the court to assess the position properly.

Regional context and consistency

The GHR framework promotes consistency across regions, whether dealing with matters in Wiltshire or elsewhere within National Band 1. Oversight by the Civil Justice Council ensures that regional differences are recognised without undermining fairness, predictability, or access to justice.

How ARC Costs can assist

ARC Costs provides specialist costs support to solicitors, in-house teams, and litigants dealing with costs issues arising in Wiltshire. We advise on the correct application of the guideline hourly rates, prepare and negotiate Precedent H costs budgets, draft Bills of Costs, and assist with Points of Dispute and Replies. We also provide advocacy at detailed assessment hearings, ensuring that rates are properly applied and robustly justified in line with the current costs framework.

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