The guideline hourly rates (GHR) remain an important starting point when assessing legal costs across England and Wales. For solicitors, costs lawyers and other legal professionals working in Hull, understanding the rates applicable is important when preparing costs budgets, drafting Bills of Costs and pursuing effective costs recovery during summary and detailed assessment proceedings.

The 2026 revision represents an increase of approximately 2.28% compared with the 2025 rates. This reflects continuing inflation, increased business overheads and rising salary expectations across the legal profession. Although guideline hourly rates are not mandatory, they provide an important benchmark when courts consider whether legal costs are reasonable and proportionate.

The revised rates followed recommendations from the Civil Justice Council and its specialist working group before being approved by Sir Geoffrey Vos, the Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice.

Background to Guideline Hourly Rates in Hull

The guideline hourly rates are designed to support the fair and proportionate recovery of legal costs while retaining judicial discretion. Courts can allow rates above or below the published guidance where the circumstances of an individual case justify a departure.

The review recognised that previous rates did not always reflect the costs involved in modern legal practice. Inflation, recruitment difficulties, rising salaries and increased operational expenses have placed additional financial pressure on law firms.

Following consultation with the legal profession, the Civil Justice Council and its specialist working group considered the available evidence before recommending revised rates intended to better reflect the current cost of providing legal services.

Hull and the National Band Structure

For GHR purposes, Hull falls within the applicable national geographical band used when assessing legal costs. Identifying the correct regional band is important when preparing costs budgets and Bills of Costs.

The court will generally expect parties to apply the appropriate regional rates unless evidence demonstrates that different hourly rates are justified.

Updated Guideline Hourly Rates in Hull

For firms in Hull within National Band 2, the 2026 guideline hourly rates are:

• Grade A fee earners (solicitors and legal executives with over 8 years’ experience): £288
• Grade B fee earners (solicitors and legal executives with over 4 years’ experience): £247
• Grade C fee earners (other solicitors, legal executives or equivalent fee earners): £200
• Grade D fee earners (trainee solicitors, paralegals, and other fee earners): £142

These rates may be relevant during summary assessment, detailed assessment and costs management hearings. Correctly grading fee earners is particularly important when preparing a claim for costs. Errors in grading can result in challenges from the paying party and may affect the level of costs ultimately recovered.

Applying the Guideline Hourly Rates in Practice

The published GHR are a starting point rather than fixed or maximum rates. Courts retain discretion to depart from the guidelines where the circumstances of the case warrant a different approach.

Factors that may influence the appropriate hourly rate include:

• The complexity of the legal and factual issues
• The value and importance of the claim
• The specialist expertise required
• The experience and seniority of the fee earner
• Any urgency or exceptional time pressures
• The overall reasonableness and proportionality of the costs

Where enhanced rates are claimed, supporting evidence should explain why those rates are appropriate. This can be particularly important when preparing a Precedent H costs budget, drafting Bills of Costs or dealing with detailed assessment proceedings.

Similar principles can apply when considering counsel’s fees, with the individual circumstances of the case determining whether the costs claimed are reasonable and proportionate.

Judicial Oversight and Regional Consistency

The guideline hourly rates are intended to promote greater consistency in the assessment of legal costs throughout England and Wales while preserving flexibility for cases where different rates may be appropriate.

The involvement of the Civil Justice Council, its specialist working group and Sir Geoffrey Vos, the Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice, enables the rates to be reviewed in response to developments affecting the legal profession and the wider economy.

How ARC Costs Can Assist

ARC Costs provides specialist costs litigation support to solicitors, costs lawyers, law firms, in-house legal teams and litigants throughout England and Wales, including Hull.

Our team can advise on the application of the guideline hourly rates, assist with fee earner grading and prepare evidence to support enhanced rates where appropriate. Our services include preparing Points of Dispute and Replies and providing advocacy at both summary assessment and detailed assessment hearings.

By presenting legal costs clearly and proportionately, ARC Costs helps clients maximise costs recovery while reducing the risk of successful challenges from paying parties.

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