SCOPE & FEE ARRANGEMENTS
INDICATIVE FEE GUIDE · UPDATED 26 JULY 2026Defined scope. Transparent fee arrangements.
THALEX LAW publishes fees for work that can be responsibly standardised. Litigation, transactions and complex matters receive a written proposal once scope, assumptions and resources have been defined.
PRICING PRINCIPLES
Know what the fee covers.
Scope before price
A proposal identifies the work, deliverables, revision rounds, timing, responsible lawyer and material exclusions.
Fixed where responsible
Fixed fees are preferred for standardised work. Ranges or hourly pricing are used where the volume cannot yet be determined reliably.
No silent scope creep
If facts or scope change, additional work and cost are discussed and approved before that work is undertaken.
INITIAL CONSULTATIONS
Four ways to begin at the right level.
Intake conversation
Up to 15 minutes
No charge
A preliminary check of the practice area, urgency, professional fit and appropriate next step.
Suitable forIdentifying the next step only; no substantive legal advice.
- No document review
- No legal opinion
- Not a substitute for advice
Standard consultation
60 minutes · online or in person
VND 2,000,000
A focused discussion with a lawyer based on information and documents approved for advance review.
Suitable forOne defined issue requiring initial direction and next steps.
- Advance review of up to 10 pages
- Advice during the meeting
- Email summary of next steps
Advanced consultation
90 minutes · advance preparation
VND 4,000,000
For contracts, disputes, corporate questions or cross-border issues requiring deeper preparation.
Suitable forA question requiring advance document review and preparation.
- Advance review of up to 20 pages
- One 90-minute meeting
- Summary of views and next steps
Written consultation
Usually 3–5 business days
From VND 6,000,000
A written response to a clearly framed legal question, with scope and length confirmed in advance.
Suitable forA structured view needed for records, approval or implementation.
- One primary issue
- Key legal authorities
- One clarification after delivery
STANDARDISED WORK
Typical ranges for common assignments.
Ranges assume an ordinary matter, complete documents and one feedback round. A fixed fee or fee cap will be confirmed before work begins.
| Service | Typical scope | Indicative timing | Indicative fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract or document review | One document up to 30 pages; risk review, drafting comments and one discussion | 3–5 business days | VND 5–15 million |
| Contract or document drafting | One draft based on agreed instructions and one revision round | 5–10 business days | VND 8–25 million |
| Written legal advice | One question or a related set of questions; legal research and practical recommendations | 5–10 business days | VND 6–20 million |
| Initial dispute assessment | Chronology, key legal issues, available evidence and preliminary options | 7–12 business days | VND 10–25 million |
ONGOING LEGAL COUNSEL
A consistent legal point of contact for day-to-day business operations.
Suitable for a business that needs continuing legal support but not a full-time in-house legal function. Before proposing terms, THALEX LAW assesses expected requests, volume, priority, instruction authority and available professional capacity.
Scope that may be included
- Advice on corporate, commercial, employment and compliance matters under Vietnamese law.
- Review, revision or drafting of ordinary contracts and internal documents within the agreed work threshold.
- Updates on directly relevant legal changes, with a register of obligations and legal risks requiring attention.
- Preliminary assessment of debts, contractual breaches, employment complaints or emerging disputes before they become separate matters.
- Periodic meetings with the appointed contact, together with reporting on requests, time used and decisions required.
Separately quoted if required
- Litigation, criminal defence, representation before authorities or participation in negotiations with third parties.
- Major transactions, mergers and acquisitions, extensive due diligence, investment projects or restructurings.
- Licensing or registration filings; tax, accounting, audit, valuation, technical or foreign-law advice; and independent expert opinions.
- Urgent after-hours work, travel, translation and third-party charges unless expressly included.
FEE STRUCTURES
Selected by work pattern—not package labels.
Fixed fee by scope
Defined monthly scope and work threshold
From VND 12,000,000 / month
Suitable where recurring requests are reasonably predictable. Work categories, expected volume, concurrent requests and out-of-scope treatment are defined in advance.
Request a proposalMonthly time allowance
05 · 10 · 20 hours / month
VND 12 · 22 · 40 million / month
Suitable where the work mix varies but can be managed through time. The amounts below correspond to each allowance.
Request a proposalBlended arrangement
Base fee + matter fees
Bespoke proposal
Suitable where a business needs continuity but demand is uneven or occasionally includes substantial assignments.
Request a proposalService standards recorded in the proposal
- 01Intake
Requests pass through one authorised contact and agreed channel; THALEX LAW acknowledges receipt within one business day.
- 02Target timing
Routine requests normally receive a target response within 02–03 business days after complete documents; complex work receives a separate timetable.
- 03Control
Usage and open-work reporting is provided periodically; work beyond scope or allowance proceeds only with client approval.
The usual initial term is three months so that actual demand can be tested and scope adjusted. Unused time does not automatically roll over; any rollover rule, excess-hour rate, concurrent-work limit and priority level must be stated in the proposal. The 20-hour allowance and urgent work are accepted only where THALEX LAW confirms sufficient capacity.
BESPOKE QUOTATION
Complex matters should not be reduced to a generic number.
Disputes & representation
Priced by stage, forum, location, document volume and the agreed scope of representation.
Criminal defence
Agreed separately by procedural stage and fully subject to applicable statutory fee methods and caps.
Transactions & investment
Based on value, parties, documents, diligence, negotiation and multi-jurisdictional elements.
Urgent work
Accelerated deadlines, after-hours work, travel or additional staffing proceed only after the added cost is approved.
TERMS OF APPLICATION
A published fee is not the total cost of every matter.
The pricing method is selected by reference to the scope, nature, time, effort and professional requirements of the legal service.
View the Law on Lawyers on the Government portal- 01
Figures exclude VAT at the rate applicable when the invoice is issued.
- 02
They exclude court, government, arbitral, notarisation, translation, expert, travel, accommodation and other third-party costs.
- 03
Indicative timing runs from receipt of complete information, documents and the agreed initial payment.
- 04
Consultation fees are paid before the appointment. One rescheduling is available with at least 24 hours’ notice unless otherwise agreed.
- 05
A paid consultation may be credited against a later phase where work overlaps and the credit is stated in the proposal.
- 06
Every bespoke proposal states its validity period, payment schedule, assumptions, inclusions and adjustment triggers.
HOW TO RECEIVE A QUOTE
Four steps before work begins.
- 01
Share only what is necessary
State the practice area, objective, relevant timing and contact channel. Do not yet send confidential documents or opposing-party names.
- 02
Professional-fit check
THALEX LAW checks conflicts, urgency and whether a paid consultation is needed before a full proposal.
- 03
Receive a written proposal
The proposal states scope, deliverables, timing, fees, tax, third-party costs and adjustment conditions.
- 04
Confirm the engagement
Work starts only after the legal-services agreement is signed and the initial payment conditions are satisfied.
START WITH A DEFINED SCOPE