FLAT-FEE PRICING

Know what you’ll pay up front.

At Buck Law, unlike our competitors, we publish our prices. Most of the non-litigation services we do are offered at a fixed, agreed-upon fee, so you know the cost before the work begins — no hourly meter, no surprise invoices. The fees below are starting points for standard matters; more complex matters are quoted individually after a consultation, and you always receive a written engagement agreement confirming your flat fee before we begin.

WHAT WE CHARGE

Flat-fee menu by category.

CONSULTATIONS

Initial Consultation

Up to 60 minutes; credited toward your matter if you retain us within 30 days (excludes general landlord/tenant consultations).

$350FLAT FEE

Free Consultations

We offer free consultations for: (i) inquiries for flat fee work without final fixed pricing (from or starting at), (ii) tenants wrongfully evicted in the City of San Diego with tenancies protected by the Residential Tenant Protections, (iii) inquiries, (v) civil litigation clients with traditional hourly billing arrangements, and (vi) contractors referred to us by "Rob" at Golden State Contractor's School (up to 15 minutes).

Free

BUSINESS FORMATIONS & ENTITY WORK

Fees exclude third-party costs: the $70 Secretary of State filing fee, the $800 annual California franchise tax, and any expedite fees.

Single-Member LLC Formation

Articles, statement of information, EIN, basic operating agreement.

$1,000FLAT FEE

Multi-Member LLC Formation

Includes custom operating agreement.

From $2,000FLAT FEE

S-Corp / C-Corp Formation

Single owner; articles, bylaws, EIN, organizational minutes, stock certificate, S-Election.

$1,500FLAT FEE

Corporation Formation

Multi-owner; bylaws, stock issuance, shareholder documentation, shareholder agreement, Buy-Sell Agreement.

From $2,000FLAT FEE

Partnership / Buy-Sell Agreement / Shareholder's Agreement

The "business prenup" for co-owners.

From $1,800FLAT FEE

Operating Agreement or Bylaws

Standalone, for an existing entity.

From $950FLAT FEE

Corporate Audit and Cleanup

Review governing documents, corporate records, meeting minutes, corporate compliance audit, and one-hour consultation with a written memorandum detailing an action plan.

$750FLAT FEE

CONTRACTS & DOCUMENTS

Contract Review + Written Issues Memo

Standard business agreement.

$450FLAT FEE

Contract Review

Complex or long-form agreement.

From $650FLAT FEE

Custom Contract Drafting

Promissory notes, business-to-business contracts, lease agreements, asset purchase agreements, master service agreements, and more.

From $500FLAT FEE

Independent Contractor / Employment Agreement

Employer-side draft or review.

From $600FLAT FEE

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

Mutual or one-way.

$400FLAT FEE

Commercial Lease Review

Tenant-side review with issues memo.

$650FLAT FEE

Contract Template Package

Three core agreements for your business, includes unlimited revisions.

From $1,800FLAT FEE

OUTSIDE GENERAL COUNSEL — MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION

A defined scope of ongoing legal support for a predictable monthly fee. Cancel any time with 30 days' notice. Work outside the plan scope is billed at a discounted $275/hour after written approval.

Essential

Unlimited brief email/text chat advisory on routine legal questions, priority scheduling, and up to two short contract reviews per month.

$750 / moRETAINER

Standard

Everything in Essential, plus a defined block of attorney time each month for drafting, review, and negotiation, and a quarterly legal check-in.

$1,500 / moRETAINER

Premium

Embedded general counsel: broader monthly scope, attendance of in-person meetings, monthly strategy calls, and template library access.

From $3,000 / moRETAINER

LITIGATION LIMITED SCOPE & A LA CARTE

During civil litigation, hire an attorney for a specific task without retaining full representation — you stay in control of your case and your budget.

Demand Letter

Attorney-drafted, on firm letterhead.

From $500FLAT FEE

Small Claims Preparation

From A-Z — review/analyze claims, draft complaint, prepare exhibits, file complaint, serve complaint, basic standard form paperwork, suggest exhibits, up to one hour pre-hearing meeting (includes filing fees and service of process costs of one defendant).

$1,100FLAT FEE

Single Court Appearance

Limited-scope appearance at one hearing.

From $600FLAT FEE

Litigation Audit and Roadmap

Review of complaint or answer and summary of facts, up to one hour for litigation consultation, and written memorandum with recommended plan of action to prosecute or defend the case. Strongly recommended.

$500FLAT FEE

Motion or Opposition Drafting

Single motion or response.

From $850FLAT FEE

Document Preparation

Per document (standard judicial forms only, does not include filing or service).

From $350FLAT FEE

Tenant Rights Consultation

Includes review of lease agreement, documents related to dispute, correspondence, up to one hour meeting, and memorandum regarding rights and plan of action.

From $500FLAT FEE

CONSTRUCTION LAW

Mechanics Lien — Preparation and Recording

Draft and record a compliant mechanics lien.

$700FLAT FEE

Construction Contract Review

Homeowner or contractor, including review memorandum.

$500FLAT FEE

Construction Contract Drafting

Home improvement contract, construction contracts, subcontractor agreements.

From $850FLAT FEE

Construction Payment Demand Letter

Attorney-drafted demand for unpaid work.

$500FLAT FEE

Contractor Bond Defense

Review of bond claim, up to one hour meeting regarding defense and plan of action, written response with supporting documentation supporting bond protest/denial of claim.

From $1,000FLAT FEE

Contractor's State License Board Complaint

Draft and file a contractor's state license complaint against a contract, including review of contract, dispute, evidence, and up to one hour meeting. Excludes all post-filing work which is billed at hourly rate.

From $1,000FLAT FEE

Contractor's State License Board Complaint Defense

Review complaint, up to one hour meeting regarding defense and plan of action.

From $500FLAT FEE

Civil Litigation

Contested litigation has too many variables to fit a single flat fee. Where it makes sense, we offer flat fees for discrete phases (for example, a fixed fee through the pleadings stage) and otherwise bill at a standard hourly rate. We will always discuss the structure with you up front.

Important Terms

  • Quotes and fees marked “from” or “starting at” are base prices for standard matters. Final fees are confirmed in a written engagement agreement before any work begins.

  • Unless stated, flat fees do not include third-party costs such as court filing fees, state filing fees, the $800 California franchise tax, recording fees, service of process, expedite charges, or expert fees. These are billed at cost.

  • The scope of every flat-fee engagement is defined in writing. Work falling outside that scope is addressed through a written scope adjustment before it proceeds — you will never receive a surprise bill.

  • Advance and flat fees are handled in accordance with the California Rules of Professional Conduct.

  • This schedule is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. That relationship is formed only by a signed engagement agreement.

Contact us

• 24 hours or less for most responses

Don’t see what you need? Tell us what we can help with →

COMMON QUESTIONS

About our flat-fee pricing.

  • For complex litigation or multi-party matters, we'll discuss pricing in your free intake call and give you a written quote before any work begins.

  • For most engagements that don't fit a flat fee, we still quote a fixed price after intake. Hourly is used only for narrow scenarios like complex ongoing litigation where the work genuinely can't be scoped in advance.

  • Everything described for that service, all communication with us, and revisions within the scope. We're explicit about what's in scope when we quote.

  • Yes. Our flat fee is for our work; government filing fees, service costs, expert witness fees, and similar third-party costs are passed through at cost.

  • For engagements above $1,000 we can split into two installments. Larger custom matters can be structured per case.

  • We'd discuss it with you and quote any additional scope as a separate flat fee or change order. No surprise additions to your bill.

  • Online via card or ACH after the engagement letter is signed.