Legal Fee Calculator — Matter Budget
Build a legal-matter budget from agreed fees, expenses, entered tax and a reserve, then compare the budget with funds already allocated.
Plan the funding for one legal matter using your own fee and expense assumptions. List fixed service fees or estimates, add expenses and a tax amount determined elsewhere, and optionally set a reserve. The result is a budget for discussion and planning, rather than a bill or a legally prescribed fee.
How to use this tool
- Enter each service and its agreed or estimated fee.
- Add expected expenses and any separately determined tax amount.
- Choose a reserve percentage for uncertainty in fees and expenses.
- Compare the total with funds already allocated to this matter.
Formula
Budget = fees + expenses + entered tax + reserve; reserve = (fees + expenses) × reserve percentage / 100
All service rows describe the same matter and currency. The reserve excludes tax and is a planning allowance, not a contractual charge. Funding above the budget and additional funding needed are reported separately. Up to 100 nonblank service rows are supported.
Example
Service fees of 500 and 1,500 total 2,000. Add 300 in expenses, zero entered tax and a 10% reserve on 2,300. The reserve is 230, so the budget is 2,530. With 500 already allocated, additional planned funding is 2,030.
Frequently asked questions
Does this tell me what a lawyer should charge?
No. It totals supplied assumptions. Scope, complexity, agreed terms and applicable local rules can affect a fee; the example amounts are not market benchmarks or recommended charges.
Is the reserve money already owed?
No. It represents extra budget capacity. Whether a fee is earned or an expense is payable depends on the agreement and applicable rules, not this percentage.
How should I enter a retainer?
Use the funding field only for a planning comparison if that money is allocated to this matter. Do not infer that an advance has been earned, that all funds are available for every charge, or that a calculated surplus is refundable.
Sources
This tool gives an estimate for general information only. It is not financial, tax, legal or medical advice — check with a qualified professional before you rely on the result.
Last updated: 2026