How many lawyers does it take to run a court case? Too many, says one Federal Court judge.

In a scathing judgment in a bankruptcy case, Justice Steven Rares has taken aim at big law firms throwing a barrage of lawyers at cases and said "it is time that the profession recognised that costs should be kept to a minimum".

Federal Court judge Steven Rares said barristers could perform some legal work more efficiently and cost-effectively than solicitors. Credit:Tanya Lake

Justice Rares made the remarks after lawyers acting for a bankruptcy trustee estimated his costs for a case including a final two-day hearing at $239,485.

This included the work of four solicitors from law firm Piper Alderman and a junior barrister in Sydney.