The Basics

No win no fee solicitors are available to people in and around Risca, but the arrangement is not offered by every firm or for every type of legal matter. For many people comparing options locally, the key question is whether a solicitor can consider the specific circumstances, explain any likely costs in plain English, and confirm what would happen if the claim did not succeed. To find a no-win-no-fee solicitor in Risca, get a free consultation with First4Lawyers, who can help look for a suitable no-win-no-fee agreement for your case type.

If you are based in Risca, Crosskeys, Rogerstone, Machen or nearby parts of Caerphilly county borough, it can help to start with a simple explanation rather than legal jargon. A no win no fee agreement usually means the solicitor is paid differently if the claim succeeds, often through a success fee from compensation, but the exact terms, deductions and any insurance or disbursement costs should be checked before you agree to anything. Some people in Wales may also prefer to ask whether support can be provided in Welsh or English.

Conditional Fee Agreements

No Win No Fee is a term in the UK commonly used to describe Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA) between lawyers and their clients. In broad terms, a CFA sets out when the solicitor is paid, what may be deducted if the claim succeeds, and what costs may still need to be considered if it does not. This can make it easier for people to explore a claim without paying standard legal fees upfront, but it is not the same as saying there is no possible cost or no paperwork to check. Disbursements, such as medical reports or court fees, and “After the Event” (ATE) insurance may also be relevant depending on the agreement. Not all types of cases allow no win no fee arrangements, and family and criminal cases do not allow CFAs to be used.

Types of Cost Components 

When comparing the benefits and possible disadvantages of a No Win No Fee Agreement, these are the main cost components to ask about in clear, practical terms:

• Basic Charges or Standard Fee – Fees associated with legal work done on behalf of a client.  Typically based on the number of hours spent and hourly rates associated with the staff involved with case. Different lawyers in Risca will have different fees for their day-to-day work, and these can vary between practices, and between qualified solicitors within a practice.
• Disbursements – Payment for expenses made on behalf of the client including but not limited to court fees, experts’ fees, accident report fees and travelling expenses.
• Success Fee or “Uplift” To compensate for the cost of lost cases, lawyers typically are allowed to add a success fee or ”Uplift” in the CFA.   This is usually a percentage (not more than 100%) of a lawyer’s basic charges that is added to a client’s bill for which they will seek to recover from the other party if they win the claim.
• After the Event (“ATE”) Insurance Premium – Cost of Insurance as part of a no win no fee agreement to indemnify the costs and disbursements of the lawsuit.  Usually purchased at or after the start of the litigation process.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

• Because the cost to the client is linked to the outcome of the case.  For an unsuccessful case, there is the possibility that the client pays little or no cost.
• Required disclosure of a CFA to the other party may encourage earlier settlement as the other party’s cost will increase in line with the level of the success fee.
• Any damages awarded to the client will not be eaten up by the success fee, as the success fee will in most cases be payable by the opponent.

Disadvantages

• There is no privilege, nor privacy attached to the funding arrangement in place. The existence of the CFA must be disclosed to the other party at the outset of the litigation and the risk assessment has to be disclosed to the court and if necessary to the other party when costs are assessed.
• A CFA gives the lawyer a financial interest in the litigation and because of this they are inclined to take control of the strategy and resolution of the litigation.
• Unless the client buys ATE to cover the winning party’s costs, the client is still at risk to pay those costs.

To search for a specific solicitor, try the Solicitors Regulation Authority website, which lists all the law firms and people regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Alternatively, if you want help finding no win no fee solicitors for Risca or nearby areas, visit our partner First4Lawyers for a free no-obligation chat.