The Basics

No win no fee solicitors may be available for people in Liversedge, but this type of funding is not automatic. It will usually depend on the kind of claim, the evidence available, time limits, and the solicitor’s assessment of risk. Some firms covering Liversedge may offer no win no fee support for suitable personal injury or medical negligence claims, while others may not. To check whether a Liversedge enquiry may fit this kind of arrangement, get a free consultation with First4Lawyers, who can look for a solicitor offering no win no fee support for your specific type of case.

Liversedge sits between places such as Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton, Mirfield and Batley, so the most suitable no win no fee solicitor for a Liversedge claim may not be the closest office on the high street. Many initial discussions can happen by phone or online, which can help people ask early questions about claim type, likely funding terms, solicitor experience and what may happen if the claim does not succeed.

Conditional Fee Agreements

No win no fee is a common UK phrase for a funding arrangement often called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). In broad terms, it means a solicitor may agree not to charge their basic legal fees if the claim is unsuccessful, but the detail matters. If the claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from compensation; in many UK personal injury claims, a common rule of thumb is up to 25% of certain parts of compensation, although the signed agreement is what matters. Other items such as disbursements, medical report fees, court fees, or After the Event (ATE) insurance may also need to be understood. If the claim does not succeed, the agreement should explain what, if anything, the client may still have to pay and what insurance is intended to cover. Not every case type can use this kind of arrangement; family and criminal cases are generally outside the usual no win no fee model.

Types of Cost Components 

When comparing a No Win No Fee Agreement, it is worth understanding the main cost terms before signing anything, especially the success fee, what it is calculated on, whether expenses are covered, and whether insurance is mentioned in the paperwork:

• 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 Liversedge 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.

If you are checking no win no fee solicitors in Liversedge, the key questions are usually what type of claim the solicitor handles, whether a success fee or percentage may be deducted if the claim succeeds, what other costs could arise, and what happens if the claim does not succeed. It can also be sensible to check who regulates the firm and whether the agreement explains the important costs in plain language. To search for a specific solicitor, try the Solicitors Regulation Authority website, which lists law firms and people regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Alternatively, visit our partner First4Lawyers for a free no-obligation chat.