Legal protection for you - not billable hours.
Fixed-fee, escrow-funded, outcome-linked oversight for everyday disputes.
Removing the hourly-billing conflict of interest.
Why Hourly Billing Fails Clients – And How We Fix It
| Risk | Clean Law fix | |
|---|---|---|
| Cases that drag for years | → | We’re incentivised to finish your case early, not extend it. |
| Extra work you’re not sure you need | → | Your fixed-fee Lawyer Controller keeps costs down, while your courtroom lawyer focuses only on advocacy. |
| Advice or fee-padding? You can’t tell. | → | Independent check. You sign off each step. |
| Only one quote, no way to compare | → | One brief gets you multiple stage-by-stage quotes – pick the best. |
| Stuck with the wrong lawyer | → | Escrow keeps your file portable so you can switch anytime. |
| Bills that blow out without warning | → | Funds stay in escrow; nothing moves without your OK. |
Not all fixed or free legal help is created equal
Each model works differently. This table shows who controls the cost, what risks to watch for, and who each model suits best.
| Model | Who controls the cost? | Hidden risks | Who it works best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| No win no fee | The lawyer | Pressure to settle; high success fees | Money claims with strong prospects (injury, consumer, estate, class actions) |
| Pro bono | The lawyer | Limited scope; ends anytime; no continuity | People with no or very few assets |
| Direct fixed-fee | The lawyer | Scope creep; no second opinion | Routine tasks like wills or leases |
| Clean Law | You | Escrow locks budget; we oversee every change | People with something at stake - home, business, or peace of mind |
Clean Law becomes your fixed-fee Lawyer Controller in 3 steps:
Packages - Costs You Can Verify
1. Smart Legal Discovery Package
$750 +GST + disbursement
-
A dedicated consultation to understand your full situation.
Review of key documents relevant to your legal issue.
A legally prepared initial case brief.
A written summary of at least 3 legal options, outlining:
Legal risks and hidden traps
Estimated time and cost (in plain language)
Your level of control and exposure
Whether further legal work is needed, and if so, what type.
A follow-up consultation to guide your next step.
You are free to walk away or manage the matter yourself after this package.
No obligation to retain us or any lawyer.
2. Fixed-Fee Modules
Only offered if we’re confident they’ll deliver real value after Discovery.
Each phase has a fixed fee for a defined scope
Escrow-funded, stage-by-stage approvals
-
Package availability depends on your Discovery results.
We outline scope, fixed fees, and outcome-linked bonus terms before you decide.
Why Client-Side Oversight Matters
Clean Law was not involved in these matters; we share them to show what can go wrong - and how our model prevents it.
Bolitho v Banksia Securities Ltd [2021] VSC 666
A litigation funder, lawyers, and barristers dishonestly tried to claim millions from a $64M class action settlement - deceiving the court and harming 16,000 elderly investors. Justice intervened.
When Lawyers Cost More Than the Debt
Hartnett TAS Hartnett Lawyers v Bell as Executor of the Estate of Deakin-Bell [2023] NSWCA 244
A lawyer charged over $288,000 to recover a $30,000 mortgage in an undefended case. The court found most charges excessive, ordered $251,000 repaid, and dismissed appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to common concerns before you decide.
-
A: Your funds sit safely in a regulated legal trust account audited each year. No work starts until you approve each phase, and Step 2 shows how escrow keeps you in control throughout.
-
A: You’re in control. Nothing moves forward without your sign-off. If something doesn’t feel right, we’ll help you assess it before you decide.
-
A: It means you only pay us for our ADR effort if we successfully help you avoid the legal costs of a full final hearing.
-
A: Yes. You can end our services at any time. We also protect your right to switch external lawyers by managing the file release process for you.
-
A: Yes, and we welcome it. We brief your chosen external lawyer and help you stay in control. That’s how we prove we’re truly on your side.
-
A: Legal advice takes time. Instead of paying each lawyer to study your case, you pay us once to prepare a full brief. You can then give that brief to lawyers you choose, so they can give clear, costed proposals - without repeating the same work.
-
A: That’s always your choice. You can end our services at any time. We’ll hand back your file and support a clean transition, even if you choose not to use any lawyer at all.