Funding Your Case
Explaining Costs
In all matters we will provide you with either an estimate of our costs, based on the information that you have provided, or a fixed fee for the work that we undertake.
You must be aware that estimating fees is difficult. In many cases the estimate that we provide at the start of the case will not be accurate because the circumstances will change. However, we will tell you if we think that the estimate of your fees has changed and we will keep you up to date on what the costs are in your case.
Types of funding
|
Type of work |
Public Funding (Legal Aid) |
Private (Hourly rate) |
Private (Fixed fee) |
Private (No Win No Fee) |
|
Description (Our costs) |
Legal aid is available to those on income support or low incomes.
The initial funding will be through Legal Help
If we have to attend court for you we will have to apply for a public funding certificate
We are paid by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) at rates set by the Government.
Please note that if you benefit financially at the end of your case you may be required by LSC to repay our costs. This is called The Statutory Charge. |
Our hourly rates depend upon the seniority of the fee-earner working for you and the complexity of the work undertaken on your behalf.
Currently our rates vary from £130 per hour for a trainee solicitor to £250 per hour for the Senior Partner in a complex matter
We charge for our time, plus the number of letters out (1/10th hourly rate), phone calls (1/10th hourly rate) and letters in (1/20th hourly rate).
NB If you win your case, our fees may be paid by your opponent (this is unlikely in family matters
|
In certain cases we may be able to offer a fixed fee to do the work for you because the type of work that you are asking us to do is easier to quantify.
You may ask us to quote a fixed fee, if you wish, but it will not always be possible to agree to this |
In some areas of litigation (eg personal injury) we are able to operate under:
NO WIN NO FEE
This means that we will sign a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) with you stating that:
if we lose we do not get paid.
If we win we will claim our costs from your opponent, at our private rates plus a success fee. |
WHAT WE CAN OFFER
Family
|
Type of work |
Public Funding (Legal Aid) |
Private (Hourly rate) |
Private (Fixed fee) |
Private (No Win No Fee) |
|
Family (Divorce) |
yes |
yes |
yes no fault, no disputes only |
no |
|
Family (Finances) |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
|
Family (Children) |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
|
Family (Domestic Violence) |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
Crime
|
Type of work |
Public Funding (Legal Aid) |
Private (Hourly rate) |
Private (Fixed fee) |
Private (No Win No Fee) |
|
At the police station |
yes To all clients |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
no |
|
At the Magistrates Court |
yes |
yes |
yes On request |
no |
|
Crown Court |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
Litigation (including Personal Injury)
|
Type of work |
Public Funding (Legal Aid) |
Private (Hourly rate) |
Private (Fixed fee) |
Private (No Win No Fee) |
|
Personal Injury |
no |
yes |
no |
yes |
|
RTA (Opponent: Uninsured driver) |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
|
Criminal Injuries Compensation |
no |
yes |
yes |
no |
|
Other litigation |
yes |
yes |
yes In rare cases |
yes In some cases |
For information on our fees in Conveyancing, Wills, Power of Attorney, Trust and Probate please refer to the relevant page on our website