Legal services can be incredibly costly. This, coupled with the fact that individuals might lose their case and are not guaranteed a reward, discourages many from seeking legal action.
In response to this, no win no fee arrangements emerged, in which individuals are only required to pay their legal fees if they win their case. These can be incredibly beneficial. However, there are some things you should know about these arrangements before you enter into one.
What Is A No Win No Fee Arrangement?
A no win no fee arrangement, sometimes called a contingency fee arrangement, is a legal agreement about payment for legal costs for a case.
Simply put, if you are in a no win no fee arrangement with a solicitor, you will not pay your legal costs unless and until you are successful in a case.
This means that, if you do not win your case, you will not have any out-of-pocket expenses. You are not taking on any financial risks in bringing a case subject to a no win no fee payment.
Note that we will be discussing the laws and practices of no win no fee arrangements in Ireland. These might vary in different jurisdictions.
How To Find Out If A Solicitor Or Law Firm Is Offering No Win No Fee Arrangements
In Ireland, the Law Society’s Guidelines prevent solicitors and law firms from advertising a no win no fee service to the public. However, it is legal to offer and provide no win no fee arrangements.
Because solicitors cannot advertise their service as no fee no pay, it can be difficult to determine whether they are open to such arrangements. Therefore, you should approach solicitors, and in a consultation inquire about whether they operate on a no win no fee basis.
Note that most solicitors don’t offer a blanket, no win no fee arrangement for all cases. Because they are taking on financial risk, they will consider the merits and strength of the case before offering a no win no fee service.
What Types Of Cases Can You Use No Win No Fee Arrangements For?
There is no limit to the types of cases for which solicitors offer a no win no fee payment option. However, this option is more suited to some areas of law than others.
Typically, no win no fee arrangements are used in personal injury claims, such as medical negligence claims or accident claims. However, they are also used in other areas of law, such as employment law.
However, it is not only the area of law that will play into whether you are offered a no win no fee payment option. Your case’s likelihood of success is usually the determining factor.
The Costs Involved In These Agreements
You are probably wondering ‘how much do solicitors charge for no win no fee arrangements?‘. This depends on the agreement you entered into. This will usually cover legal costs and disbursements (payments made to third parties in connection with your claim).
Make sure you carefully read through your arrangement before signing so that you have a good understanding of the payment amount and process should you win your case.
How To Choose A No Win No Fee Solicitor
Solicitors offering a no win no fee arrangement will usually only take a case if they believe they have a very high probability of winning the case.
Therefore, most respectable solicitors offering a no win no fee arrangement will provide you with a good service, given their financial stake in the case.
However, you should still consider whether they have the qualities of a credible lawyer before hiring them.
When it comes to hiring a good personal injury lawyer on a no win no fee basis, we recommend you look online and ask friends and family members for recommendations.
Fees Covered By No Win No Pay Arrangements
Fees covered by a no win no pay arrangement will depend on the agreement you made with your attorney. Generally, they will cover the solicitor’s legal fees and other fees associated with their legal services (such as medical reports, expert’s fees, stamp duties, and expert’s fees).
Time Limits On No Win No Fee Claims
No win no fee claims are subject to the statute of limitations. This means that claimants must make their claim before two years less one day has elapsed since they gained knowledge about the incident over which they are bringing their claim.
