Hiring a lawyer, and how fees generally work

Any serious legal matter in Thailand — a property purchase, a divorce, a court case, a criminal accusation — needs a licensed Thai lawyer. Here is how the profession generally works and how to choose well.

Who can practise

• Practising lawyers must hold a licence from the Lawyers Council of Thailand, and with narrow exceptions must be Thai nationals; a foreign “consultant” generally cannot represent you in a Thai court.
• Reputable firms pair foreign-qualified advisers with licensed Thai litigators — a legitimate and common structure.
• You can ask to see a lawyer’s licence number, and conduct complaints go to the Lawyers Council.

How fees are typically structured

• Fixed fees are common for defined jobs such as company registration, a straightforward will, or an uncontested divorce.
• Staged fees are typical in litigation — part on filing, part at hearings, part at judgment.
• Court filing fees for civil money claims are generally separate from professional fees, and should be quoted separately.
• We do not publish specific price figures on this site, because they vary by firm, complexity and region — get a written quote directly from the lawyer you are considering.

Questions worth asking before engaging

1. Who exactly will handle my case, and are they licensed to appear in court?
2. What is the fee structure, and what is not included — court fees, translations, travel?
3. What are the realistic outcomes and the realistic timeline?
4. Will I get a written engagement letter setting all of this out?

Red flags

• Guaranteed outcomes, especially in court cases or visa matters.
• Claims of special influence with officials, police or judges.
• No written engagement, cash-only demands, or pressure to sign documents you cannot read.
• One “lawyer” acting for both sides of a transaction without explaining the conflict.
• Refusal to give a licence number or confirm who is actually licensed to appear in court.

How TPN Law fits in

We do not employ lawyers, quote fees, or take on cases. What we can do is help you arrive at a first consultation understanding the general shape of your situation. When you are ready to talk to a licensed lawyer, we recommend Anglo Siam Legal as our partner for Thai legal representation.

What to bring to a first consultation

• A short written timeline of what happened, in order, rather than trying to explain it verbally from memory.
• Every document that touches the matter — contracts, messages, receipts, official letters — even ones you think are unimportant.
• A clear statement of what outcome you actually want; a lawyer can tell you whether that outcome is realistic, but only once they know what you are aiming for.
• Certified translations of any document not already in Thai or English, where you have them — see notarisation & documents.

Retainers, engagement letters and staying in control of cost

A written engagement letter should set out scope, fee structure, what happens if the scope expands, and how and when invoices are issued. Ask your lawyer to flag in advance if a matter is likely to move outside the original scope — for example, a straightforward claim turning into a contested one — rather than discovering it only on the next invoice. It is reasonable to ask for periodic written updates on where the matter stands and what has been spent so far.

Getting a second opinion

It is normal, and not a sign of distrust, to get a second opinion on a significant matter before committing — particularly on property transactions, business structuring, or any case where the first lawyer’s advice sounds unusually certain about an outcome. A second consultation costs relatively little compared with the amounts typically at stake in the matters covered on this site.

If something goes wrong with your lawyer

Complaints about a licensed Thai lawyer’s conduct can be raised with the Lawyers Council of Thailand, which has its own disciplinary process. Keep your engagement letter, invoices and correspondence in case you need them — both to raise a complaint and, separately, to assess whether a claim for professional negligence might apply, which is itself a specialist area a different lawyer would need to advise on.