Pricing
Indicative Rates
First Precedent publishes its rates because opacity in professional services is a structural problem, not a feature. The figures below are indicative ranges. The final fee on any given engagement is a function of scope, urgency, jurisdictional reach, and depth — confirmed in writing before the engagement begins.
A.
How we price.
The right billing model depends on the nature of the work. Open-ended research where scope is calibrated as the work proceeds is best billed by the hour. Defined deliverables — a memorandum, a market-entry report, a compliance checklist — are best billed by project. Editorial work is billed by output. Sustained engagement is billed by retainer or daily rate.
The factors that affect the final fee within an indicative range are predictable. They are listed below.
Billing models
- Hourly
- Open-ended research engagements, billed in 30-minute increments.
- Project Fee
- Defined deliverables agreed at the outset against a written scope.
- Per-Word / Per-Page
- Editorial and high-volume document work.
- Daily Rate
- Sustained team engagement for a defined period.
- Monthly Retainer
- Ongoing engagement against a defined monthly scope.
- Flat Fee
- Standardised deliverables with predictable scope (such as IP searches).
What affects the final fee
- Urgency
- Compressed turnaround increases the fee proportionally.
- Jurisdictional reach
- Multi-court or multi-jurisdictional work requires broader research.
- Depth of analysis
- A research note is not a research memorandum is not an opinion-grade analysis.
- Document volume
- Larger record sets require longer review.
B.
Rates by service.
I. Core Legal Research
| Service | Billing Model | Indicative Range |
|---|---|---|
| Case Law Research & Precedent Analysis | Hourly or Project | ₹1,200 – ₹2,500 / hour · ₹8,000 – ₹30,000+ per project |
| Statutory & Regulatory Research | Hourly | ₹1,000 – ₹2,200 / hour |
| Legislative History Analysis | Project | ₹15,000 – ₹40,000+ per project |
| Comparative Law Research | Hourly | ₹2,000 – ₹4,500 / hour |
Hourly or Project
₹1,200 – ₹2,500 / hour · ₹8,000 – ₹30,000+ per project
II. Litigation & Dispute Resolution Support
| Service | Billing Model | Indicative Range |
|---|---|---|
| Pleadings & Motions Support | Project | ₹10,000 – ₹50,000+ per filing |
| Legal Memorandum Drafting | Project | ₹12,000 – ₹60,000 per memorandum |
| Case Summaries & Briefing | Hourly or Per-Page | ₹900 – ₹1,800 / hour · ₹400 – ₹700 per page |
| Citation & Authority Verification | Hourly | ₹800 – ₹1,500 / hour |
III. Corporate & Transactional Support
| Service | Billing Model | Indicative Range |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Due Diligence Support | Daily Rate or Project Flat Fee | ₹10,000 – ₹20,000 / day · ₹75,000 – ₹2,00,000+ flat fee |
| Regulatory Compliance Audits & Checklists | Project | ₹15,000 (startups) – ₹75,000+ (regulated industries) |
| Intellectual Property Search | Flat Fee | Trademark ₹4,000 – ₹8,000 per mark/class · Patent ₹15,000 – ₹30,000 |
| Market Entry Legal Analysis | Project | ₹40,000 – ₹1,50,000+ per report |
Daily Rate or Project Flat Fee
₹10,000 – ₹20,000 / day · ₹75,000 – ₹2,00,000+ flat fee
Project
₹15,000 (startups) – ₹75,000+ (regulated industries)
Flat Fee
Trademark ₹4,000 – ₹8,000 per mark/class · Patent ₹15,000 – ₹30,000
IV. Academic, Policy & Content Services
| Service | Billing Model | Indicative Range |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Literature Review | Hourly | ₹1,000 – ₹2,000 / hour |
| Policy Research & Bill Analysis | Project | ₹25,000 – ₹80,000+ per report |
| Legal Content Creation | Per-Word or Per-Article | ₹3 – ₹8 / word · ₹3,000 – ₹8,000 per 1,000-word article |
| Knowledge Management Support | Monthly Retainer | ₹25,000 – ₹60,000 / month |
Per-Word or Per-Article
₹3 – ₹8 / word · ₹3,000 – ₹8,000 per 1,000-word article
C.
Two illustrative engagements.
Short engagement
Citation verification before a High Court hearing
An advocate appearing in a writ matter before the Delhi High Court requires verification of eleven authorities cited in the written submissions — checking accuracy of citation, currency of law, and consistency with subsequent treatment on SCC Online and Manupatra. The brief is straightforward; the scope is defined. Estimated fee at the hourly citation-verification rate: ₹6,000 – ₹10,000, depending on the complexity of each citation's subsequent treatment history.
Complex engagement
Multi-jurisdictional research memorandum for a constitutional challenge
A law firm requires a full research memorandum on the constitutionality of a State licensing provision under Article 19(1)(g) — covering the governing ratio from the Supreme Court, the divergent High Court positions, comparative treatment in Commonwealth jurisdictions, and the applicable standards of scrutiny. Scope confirmed at outset; deliverable is a structured memorandum with full citation trails and currency verification. Estimated fee at the project-memorandum rate: ₹40,000 – ₹70,000, depending on the number of jurisdictions covered and the depth of comparative analysis required.
D.
Frequently asked questions.
How is turnaround calculated?
The turnaround clock begins on confirmation of scope and fee — not on first contact. Standard turnaround on most engagements is five to seven business days. Priority and same-day work is available at a premium and is confirmed engagement-by-engagement.
How is confidentiality maintained for uploaded materials?
Every brief is treated under the terms set out in the Confidentiality Charter. Materials are stored in encrypted form, accessible only to the research lead and assigned researchers, and securely destroyed on completion of the engagement.
Does First Precedent provide legal advice?
No. First Precedent provides legal research and analysis. The work product supports a licensed practitioner's professional judgment; it does not replace it. This is set out in the Bar Council Disclaimer.
What jurisdictions do you cover?
All Indian forums — the Supreme Court, every High Court, and tribunals including NCLT, NCDRC, NGT, CAT, and DRT. Comparative research draws on UK, US, EU, and Commonwealth jurisdictions where relevant. Specialised foreign-law research uses external databases at the higher rate disclosed for that service.
Can fees be negotiated?
The published ranges are indicative; the fee on any given engagement is set against scope. We do not discount on volume because we do not subordinate quality to volume. We do calibrate the engagement structure — hourly, project, retainer — to the client’s preference.
How is payment handled?
Engagement begins on receipt of a 50% advance against the agreed fee. The balance is invoiced on delivery. Retainers are billed monthly in advance against the agreed scope.
Bar Council Disclaimer
First Precedent is a legal research firm. It does not appear in court, advise clients, or hold itself out as a law firm. The work product produced by First Precedent supports the professional judgment of licensed practitioners; it does not replace it. See the full Bar Council Disclaimer →