Based in Adelaide, where overheads are generally lower than in other states, Watsons Lawyers is able to offer very competitive rates.

Hourly rates are the basis on which most lawyers charge. The experience of Peter Watson, as in-house counsel, is that where the relationship between lawyer and client is close, billing is regular and there is a mutual effort to manage costs effectively, hourly rates are the best way to charge and pay for legal services. Moreover, we believe that the experience of Peter Watson, coupled with the development of a close understanding of our clients' businesses and needs, ensures that time is spent efficiently, thus keeping total costs as low as possible.

Even so, we are open to variations in how we charge for our services. We are prepared, in appropriate cases, to risk our fees, in whole or in part, or to work at lower than usual rates with a rate mark up on successful completion of a transaction or successful business outcome for our clients.

We do not charge for things such as telephone calls, facsimiles, photocopying and email costs which in the case of many other law firms are a significant profit centre. We regard these things as an internal cost of being in business.