When parties litigate in England and Wales, disputes over costs can be just as significant as the underlying claim. The Solicitors’ Guideline Hourly Rates (GHR), set by the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO), provide a benchmark for assessing what is reasonable when considering legal costs.

These rates are not absolute limits, but they form the starting point for a court when conducting a summary assessment. Where solicitors seek to recover more than the guideline amount, they must show why the nature of the work merits higher remuneration.

What are the Guideline Hourly Rates in Manchester?

Manchester is one of the largest legal hubs outside London, hosting many national and international firms. For guideline purposes, Manchester is placed within the National 1 band, which covers major cities and commercial centres across the country.

Being in National 1 means that firms in Manchester can claim rates above those available in smaller towns (National 2), but below the levels seen in central London. For example, Outer London rates are set separately to reflect cost differences in the capital.

How Rates Are Updated

The current figures reflect an annual increase applied to ensure the guidelines keep pace with market realities. The system is tied to the Service Producer Price Index (SPPI), which tracks inflation in professional services.

Following SPPI data to December 2023, the rates increased by 3.65% from January 2024 to January 2025. This system was introduced after a wider review by the Civil Justice Council, ensuring the GHR remains a reliable and evidence-based reference point.

Oversight of the process lies with Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, who is also the Head of Civil Justice. His role ensures the figures reflect both fairness to parties and the realities faced by practitioners.

Grades of Fee Earner

The Guideline Hourly Rates categorise fee earners into four grades based on experience:

• Grade A – Solicitors or legal executives with over 8 years’ post-qualification experience.
• Grade B – Solicitors or legal executives with over 4 years’ experience.
• Grade C – Other solicitors, legal executives or equivalent.
• Grade D – Trainee solicitors, paralegals, or junior staff.

This structure recognises that senior professionals command higher rates, while more junior team members are charged out at lower levels.

Current Guideline Hourly Rates, Manchester (2025)

Enhancements Above the Guideline Rates

While the solicitors guideline hourly rates provide a clear benchmark, they are not fixed ceilings. In certain cases, courts may allow enhancements above guideline levels if the solicitor can justify them.

Enhancement may be awarded where:

1. Complexity of the case – Work requiring niche expertise or highly technical knowledge may justify higher rates.
2. Urgency – Urgent applications or emergency injunctions can command more than the standard guideline.
3. Value or importance – Cases involving very high value or public significance may require more senior input.
4. Specialist expertise – Where practitioners have rare or market-leading skills, higher rates may be reasonable.
5. Market evidence – Proof of what clients are actually paying for similar work in Manchester can support claims above the guidelines.

Courts, however, require detailed evidence. Enhancements will not be granted simply because the solicitor asks; the justification must be set out in costs schedules and witness statements.

How ARC Costs can Assist

ARC Costs, as well as preparing costs instruments and documents, such as Bills of Costs and Costs Budgets, often handle negotiations during detailed assessment proceedings, and deal with disputes between parties in relation to the hourly rates being charged as part of any costs recovery.

Please note that the current SCCO Guideline Hourly Rates remain guidelines only. A number of factors can be taken into account to allow for a higher rate to be claimed in costs, such the expertise of a Solicitor and the complexity of the case.

The issues of the hourly rates claimed in costs can be dealt with through Points of Dispute and Replies, with oral submissions sometimes being required at summary assessment and detailed assessment where a decision on the reasonableness of the rates claimed will be made by the costs judge.

As independent experts, we can also represent Paying Parties in opposing deviation from the SCCO guideline rates, so as to minimise a client’s exposure to excessive or unreasonable legal costs.

To discuss your costs query further, please contact us on 01204 397302 or email on of the team at info@arccosts.co.uk. Alternatively, you may complete our online enquiry form and we will contact you to discuss your query further.

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