Legal retainer burn-rate calculator

Estimate how long a retainer might last based on the activity you enter, while separating lawyer time from taxes and other expenses.

Last reviewed · Sep. 15, 2026

Initial retainer (CAD)

Lawyer hourly rate (CAD)

BC planning benchmark: $350/hour. Not an official average. Replace it with the rate on your retainer agreement or fee quote.

Emails / document items per month

Minutes per email / document item

Calls per month

Minutes per call

Meetings per month

Minutes per meeting

Drafting / research hours per month

Tax on legal fees

BC lawyers generally charge GST and PST on fees. Change this if a different tax assumption applies.

Monthly disbursement allowance

Court fees, service, courier, records, photocopying or other file expenses can draw from a retainer too.

Retainer view

1.6 months

Estimated duration at the current monthly pace.

Fee-only hours before tax / disbursements14.3 hours

Estimated monthly draw from retainer$3,079

The fee-only hours figure ignores taxes and disbursements. The runway estimate includes the tax and expense assumptions you entered.

These outputs are budgeting estimates only. They do not determine legal rights, entitlement, support obligations, or court outcomes. Use them to organize questions for a lawyer, mediator, or court-related information service.

Why this tool matters

A retainer is usually a deposit against future legal fees and expenses, not the total price of a family-law case. The Law Society of BC explains that retainers can be used for the lawyer's services and expenses incurred on your behalf. It also notes that GST and PST are charged on legal fees and most disbursements.

The fee-only hours figure is simply the retainer divided by the hourly rate. For example, $5,000 at $350 an hour works out to about 14.3 hours before taxes or other charges. The separate runway estimate adds the tax and disbursement assumptions you choose.

Your real invoices can still differ because firms bill differently, different staff may have different rates, and a month with a court application can use far more time than a quiet month.

Best use: compare the calculator with your retainer agreement and ask the firm what usually comes out of trust besides lawyer time.

Editable activity assumptions

You can change the assumed time for emails or document review, calls and meetings so the estimate better reflects how your file is being handled.

Primary source: Law Society of BC — Lawyers' Fees.