Dublin 2 — city centre
Representation before courts and public bodies, and contract work for businesses and individuals in nine areas of law.
The first consultation lasts 60 minutes and costs €60. A solicitor's hourly rate is €120, and fixed monthly fees for businesses start at €600. We agree the scope of work and how you'll be charged in writing before we take on a matter.
We reply to enquiries within 24 hours on working days. Before taking on a matter we check for conflicts of interest; if we can't act for you, we'll say so in our first reply. Landline your number here.
First consultation including a written summary of your options.
Solicitor's rate, charged in 6-minute units according to the time record.
Reply to your enquiry on working days, telling you whether we can take the matter on.
01
The firm
The firm has been at 9 Merchant Row since 2012. Two solicitors and one trainee solicitor work here. Each file has one responsible solicitor, who is your contact from the first consultation to the final bill.
Names and Law Society registration are in section 03
The time record comes with every invoice
We take on a matter once we've checked for conflicts of interest
If we can't act for you, we tell you straight away
At a glance
02
Services
The number of hours shown is typical for an ordinary matter of that kind. The actual scope depends on the documents and on whether the matter ends in a settlement or goes to court.
Typical scope 4 – 10 hours
Typical scope 2 – 6 hours
Typical scope 3 – 8 hours
Typical scope 3 – 9 hours
Typical scope 5 – 14 hours
Typical scope 3 – 10 hours
Typical scope 4 – 12 hours
Typical scope 8 – 25 hours, rate €140 an hour
Typical scope 4 – 8 hours
The information on this page describes the services the firm provides. It doesn't replace advice on your particular matter, which is only possible once we have the documents.
03
Who works on your file
You know the name of the solicitor running your file from the first consultation, and it doesn't change during the case. You can check each solicitor's registration with the Law Society of Ireland using the number shown next to their name.
Solicitor, managing partner
Law Society of Ireland registration no. 4187. Solicitor's work €120 an hour.
Solicitor
Law Society of Ireland registration no. 5926. Solicitor's work €120 an hour, criminal matters €140.
Trainee solicitor
Registered with the Law Society of Ireland as a trainee, no. 12407. Trainee's work €80 an hour.
At most two people work on a file: the responsible solicitor and the trainee. You'll find out who runs your matter in the terms of engagement; it can only change with your written consent.
04
Process
Five steps from the first contact to the final bill. You know the scope and the fee before we start work.
You write through the form or call. We find out what the matter is, whether we can take it on and whether there's a conflict of interest with existing clients. We reply within 24 hours on working days.
We go through the documents you bring and discuss the possible options, including how long they take and what they cost. At the end of the consultation you get a written summary with a scope estimate.
We sign terms of engagement with the fee arrangement you've chosen and an authority to act in the scope you agree. We confirm in writing when we receive any original documents.
We draft documents, negotiate with the other side and represent you at hearings and before public bodies. We tell you about every step and every decision by email, and by phone when a deadline is involved.
When the matter ends you get a final bill with a breakdown of hours and work, your original documents back and a closing report on the outcome and any deadlines still running.
05
Prices
You choose how you'll be charged before we take on the matter, and it's part of the written terms of engagement. All amounts are shown excluding VAT.
The standard solicitor's rate. Trainee's work €80 an hour, criminal matters €140 an hour. Time is recorded in 6-minute units and every month you get a record describing each piece of work. Suits matters whose scope isn't clear yet.
An agreed number of hours a month: €600 for 6 hours, €1,100 for 12 hours, €2,000 for 24 hours. Hours beyond the plan €100 an hour. Unused hours carry over to the next month, for up to two months.
In some debt and compensation claims we agree that our fee is only payable if the case succeeds. By law it can't be a share of the amount awarded — the rate is agreed in advance, together with who pays the court fees and costs.
Fees for individual steps under the District Court scale of costs, based on the value of the claim. Used mainly in court proceedings, where it is also the basis for awarding costs.
| Service | Price | Usual turnaround | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| First consultation (60 minutes) | €60 | within 5 working days | review of documents, options, written summary |
| Setting up a limited company, fully handled | €390 | 10 – 15 days | constitution and incorporation documents, filing with the CRO |
| Share transfer | €290 | 7 – 12 days | share transfer form, shareholders' resolution, CRO filing |
| Contract for the sale of a property | €340 | 5 – 8 days | folio check, contract, Land Registry application, witnessing signatures |
| Lease of a flat or commercial premises | €180 | 3 – 5 days | lease drafted for you, handover inventory, one round of comments |
| Letter of demand | €90 | 2 – 4 days | letter, service on the debtor, tracking the deadline |
| Representation at a hearing | €180 / hearing | depending on the court date | preparation, attendance, written update on how it went |
| GDPR paperwork for a business | €450 | 10 – 14 days | records of processing, privacy notices, staff authorisations, consent templates |
06
Fixed fees
An agreed number of hours a month for a fixed price. For businesses that need contracts checked as they come in and a solicitor on hand, without negotiating the price for every question.
Plan A
For businesses with up to 10 employees
Plan B
For businesses with their own sales team
Plan C
For businesses with regular legal work
You can change plans from the first day of any month. Moving up applies straight away, moving down from the following month.
07
Meeting
60 minutes over your documents. You leave with your options, an estimate of the scope in hours and a price that holds for 30 days.
Copies or photos of the documents are enough
Written summary within 2 working days
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
You get a receipt on the day
Booking an appointment
Report urgent matters with a running deadline by phone — we check the form during office hours.
08
Appointment
Choose the area of law and how complex the matter is; the calculator immediately shows a guide number of hours and a fee range based on the rates in the price list. We reply within 24 hours on working days and offer an appointment within 5 working days, or within 48 hours if a deadline is running.
Guide scope
3 – 7 hours
for the chosen area and complexity
Fee range
€340 – €840
hourly rate €120 excl. VAT
A guide calculation. We agree the binding scope and fee arrangement at the first consultation and confirm them in writing.
Sending an enquiry doesn't create a solicitor–client relationship. We take on a matter only after checking for conflicts of interest and signing the terms of engagement.
09
Preparation
The more complete the documents you bring to the first consultation, the more accurate the scope estimate and the sooner we can start. If you don't have something, tell us — we can usually request it.
| Area | Key documents | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Company and commercial law | constitution and amendments, minutes of general meetings, a current CRO printout | copy |
| Contracts and civil law | the contract and all amendments, correspondence with the other side, proof of performance | copy |
| Property and conveyancing | Land Registry folio, earlier title deeds, map, valuation report | copy, original at signing |
| Employment law | contract of employment and amendments, company policies, notice of dismissal or agreement with proof of delivery | copy |
| Family law | marriage certificate, children's birth certificates, proof of income for both parties, previous court orders | copy, certified when filing |
| Debt recovery | invoices, orders, delivery notes, previous demands and acknowledgements of debt | original for enforcement |
| Planning and administrative law | the decision, the envelope with the delivery date, the plans, submissions from other bodies | copy |
| Criminal law | the charge sheet, summons, interview notes if you have them | copy |
| Privacy policy | list of processing activities, existing consents, data processing agreements, internal policies | copy |
We don't accept attachments through the enquiry form — after our first reply we'll tell you where to send them.
10
Confidentiality
How we handle what you give us — from the first message through the form to the shredding of the file.
01
It covers everything we learn in connection with your matter and continues after it ends. It binds the solicitor, the trainee and the office staff.
02
We give a written receipt for originals and return them when the matter ends. We accept electronic documents on a USB stick at the office or by post to the office address.
03
The paper part of the file is kept in the firm's locked archive, the electronic part on an encrypted drive with a backup. Only the person working on the matter has access.
04
We only process the data needed to provide the service and meet our legal obligations. Data from enquiries that go no further is deleted after 6 months.
05
Before taking on a matter we check whether we act for the other side in the same or a related matter. If we do, we won't act for you and will tell you without undue delay.
06
As standard we call the number you give in your enquiry and send letters to the agreed address. On request we send documents by email.
07
This site uses no analytics or advertising cookies, stores no data in your browser and sends no data to third parties. That's why no cookie consent is needed.
08
You have the right to access your data, to have it corrected or erased, and to restrict its processing. Make your request in writing or in person at the office; we'll deal with it within 30 days.
09
We keep the file for 10 years after the matter ends. After that we shred the paper part and delete the electronic part, backups included.
11
Terms
Rules that apply equally to the firm and to the client and form part of the terms of engagement.
12
Where to find us
9 Merchant Row, Dublin 2. Second floor, entrance from the street through the reception desk, step-free access from the courtyard.
Map of the area
You can't wait for a consultation without an appointment — the whole day is booked. Book by mobile or landline.
13
FAQ
Eight questions we get before the first meeting.
We record time in 6-minute units, that is, tenths of an hour. Every piece of work goes into the record with its date, description and duration — reading documents, drafting, phone calls, negotiations and attending hearings.
The record comes with the invoice, so you know exactly what you're paying for. We don't charge for a short follow-up question by email that takes a few minutes.
We can hold the consultation and our ongoing contact by video call. We need the authority to act on paper or with a qualified electronic signature; some documents need to be sworn before a commissioner for oaths.
We can exchange documents by post. We recommend meeting in person for matters where a lot of paperwork needs going through at once.
Yes, we act before courts and public bodies throughout Ireland. In that case travel at €0.45 per kilometre and travel time at half the hourly rate are added to the fee.
For matters further away we estimate the number of trips in advance, so you know what to expect.
With an hourly rate we invoice monthly, by the 5th of the following month, payable within 14 days. Fixed fees are invoiced in advance on the 1st of the month.
For matters expected to take more than 20 hours we ask for a 30% payment on account, which is set against the first invoice.
You can withdraw your instructions at any time without giving a reason. We only bill for the work done up to then and hand over the file, including originals, without delay.
If a deadline is running, we warn you about it in writing so you don't miss it while moving to another solicitor.
No. The firm charges fees agreed in advance. People who can't afford a solicitor can apply to the Legal Aid Board in civil matters or ask the court for legal aid in criminal cases.
If we find that your matter falls into this category, we'll tell you at the very start.
We deal with urgent matters with a running deadline first — we can usually offer a consultation within 48 hours. In that case we need to know the date you received the decision or letter at the very first contact.
For express handling within 48 hours we add a 25% surcharge to the hourly rate.
No. The outcome depends on the evidence, the other side and the court's decision, and no firm can promise it. We agree on the approach, the scope of work and what can realistically be achieved in your matter.
We tell you in writing about the risks and the possible costs of losing, including the other side's costs, before anything is filed.
14 — Careers
We're looking for a full-time trainee solicitor for company law and property work. Training is in one office with no rotation between branches, with your own files from the second month and attending hearings from the start.
We also offer a 4-week summer internship for law students, 6 hours a day, paid €15 an hour.
You can apply by phone or through the form in section 08 — tell us the position and your year of study. We'll ask for your CV in our reply.
15
Contact
By phone during office hours, through the form at any time. Messages from the form go to the firm's inbox and you'll get a reply within 24 hours on working days.
Meritum Solicitors
9 Merchant Row
Dublin 2
second floor, entrance through reception
Step-free entrance from the courtyard, lift to the second floor.
Mobile: your number here
Landline: your number here
Post room: your number here, extension 2
Tell us the area of your matter and whether any deadline is running. Please call directly about urgent matters.
your number here