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Accountant for Legal Professionals
Fixed fee, online accountants for barristers, consultant solicitors and self-employed lawyers
Legal work brings high earnings, irregular fees and large tax bills. We prepare your accounts and tax return, apply the VAT rules for barristers, plan for payments on account and help you keep more of what you earn, all for one agreed monthly fee.
- Tax return prepared and filed
- VAT for barristers handled
- Payments on account planned
- No hidden costs
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In short
What does an accountant for legal professionals do?
An accountant for legal professionals looks after the tax of self-employed barristers, consultant solicitors and other lawyers. They prepare your accounts and Self Assessment, claim professional costs such as practising certificates and indemnity insurance, apply the VAT rules for barristers, plan for payments on account and advise on pensions and the right structure as your earnings grow.
- Accounts and taxYour practice accounts and Self Assessment
- VATRegistration and returns for your fees
- PlanningPayments on account and cash set aside
- PensionsAllowances checked as your income grows
Legal professionals we work with
Whether you practise independently or alongside a salaried role, we tailor the service to how you earn. As an accountant for barristers and solicitors, we work with all of these.
Self-employed barristers
Chambers expenses, clerks' fees, aged fees and VAT on receipts. We know how a barrister's practice is taxed and plan for your payments on account.
Consultant solicitors
Working through a consultancy model as a sole trader or through your own company. We handle your fee share, expenses and the right structure.
Contractors and IR35Pupils and junior barristers
Your pupillage award, first years in practice and early tax bills. We set things up correctly from the start, so there are no surprises.
Locum and freelance lawyers
Self-employed locum solicitors, legal consultants and paralegals working with several firms. We bring all your fees together on one return.
Accountant for freelancersMediators and experts
Fees from mediation, arbitration, expert witness work or teaching, often alongside a salaried role. We report every source correctly.
Law firms
Running a practice rather than working for one? Our law firms page covers firm accounts, partner profit shares and client account considerations.
Accountants for law firmsSee our packages
Choose a ready-made package or build your own around your practice, with every price agreed up front.
Tax rules legal professionals should know in 2026/27
Higher earnings bring rules that most people never meet. These are the ones we plan around.
Losing your Personal Allowance
Your Personal Allowance falls by £1 for every £2 of income over this amount, creating an effective tax rate of around 60% on that slice.
Payments on account
If your last bill was over £1,000, you pay towards next year in advance. Busy early years in practice can mean a very large first January bill.
VAT for barristers
Once fees pass the threshold you must register. Barristers usually account for VAT when fees are received, which helps with slow-paying work.
Pension annual allowance
The standard yearly limit for tax-relieved pension savings. It tapers down to £10,000 for adjusted income above £260,000.
Class 4 National Insurance
Paid on self-employed profit between £12,570 and £50,270, and at 2% above.
Making Tax Digital
Self-employed lawyers with qualifying income over this amount must keep digital records and send quarterly updates.
Sources: GOV.UK income over £100,000, GOV.UK payments on account, GOV.UK pension annual allowance.
What legal professionals can claim
Costs must be incurred wholly and exclusively for your practice. These are the ones we see most often.
| Usually allowable | Usually not allowable |
|---|---|
| Practising certificate fees and professional subscriptions on HMRC's approved list | Membership of social or dining clubs |
| Professional indemnity insurance | Personal life or health insurance |
| Chambers rent and clerks' fees | The cost of your home office furniture used mainly for personal purposes |
| Travel from chambers or home to court and client meetings | Regular travel between home and your chambers or office |
| Wigs, gowns and court dress | Everyday suits and clothing |
| Law reports, legal databases, books and training | Training for a new career outside law |
What's included for legal professionals
Everything your practice needs, covered by one fixed monthly fee agreed before we start.
Self Assessment
Your practice income and any other earnings on one return, filed on time.
Fee and expense records
Fees billed, fees received and expenses kept up to date.
VAT returns
Registration and returns using the right tax point for your fees.
Making Tax Digital
Digital records and quarterly updates when they apply to you.
Limited company set-up
For consultant solicitors and lawyers who work through a company.
Management accounts
A clear view of fees, aged debt and cash flow through the year.
Fixed fee accountant for legal professionals
You know the value of agreeing fees up front. As a fixed fee accountant for legal professionals, we agree one monthly price before we start, so questions about a new instruction or a large tax bill never add to it.
- A fee agreed before we start
- No charge for questions
- Budget for your accountancy costs
Online accountant for legal professionals
Court days and long hours leave little time for meetings. As an online accountant for legal professionals, we work around your diary, share documents securely and talk to you by phone, email or video, including evenings and Saturdays.
- Evening and Saturday availability
- Secure online document sharing
- Support anywhere in the UK
Worried about your January tax bill?
Payments on account can double the bill in a strong year. Talk to us now and we'll show you what to set aside and whether your payments can be reduced.
Legal Professional FAQs
Are barristers self-employed for tax?
Most practising barristers at the self-employed Bar are self-employed. They file a Self Assessment return each year and pay Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance on their profit. Employed barristers are taxed through PAYE instead.
When do barristers need to register for VAT?
A barrister must register once their taxable fees pass £90,000 in any rolling 12 months. Barristers can usually account for VAT when fees are received rather than when they're billed, which helps when fees are slow to arrive.
Why is my first tax bill so large?
In your early years, your first January bill can include the full tax for your first year plus a payment on account towards the next year, often around one and a half times the year's tax. We help you plan for it so it doesn't come as a shock.
What happens to my tax if I earn over £100,000?
Your Personal Allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000, and disappears completely at higher levels. This creates an effective tax rate of around 60% on part of your income. Pension contributions can often reduce the impact.
Can I claim my practising certificate and insurance?
Yes. Practising certificate fees, subscriptions to professional bodies on HMRC's approved list and professional indemnity insurance are usually allowable, so they reduce your taxable profit.
Should a consultant solicitor use a limited company?
It depends on your fee level, how you work with the firm and whether IR35 rules apply. A company can reduce tax for some consultants, but brings extra paperwork. We'll compare both options using your figures.
How can pensions help legal professionals?
Pension contributions receive tax relief at your highest rate and can restore a lost Personal Allowance. The standard annual allowance is £60,000, but it tapers for very high earners, so it's worth checking your limit each year.
How much does an accountant for legal professionals cost?
It depends on your income, whether you're VAT registered and the services you need. We charge one fixed monthly fee, agreed before we start. You can choose a ready-made package or build your own.
Talk to an accountant for legal professionals
Tell us about your practice and we'll confirm your fixed monthly fee, with no obligation.