4 minute read
No win no fee agreements are one of many ways someone can retain a solicitor’s services when pursuing a claim. They’re also known as conditional fee arrangements and are popular in the context of personal injury compensation claims. However, they are sometimes applied to other areas of litigation such as employment, defamation and more.
If the claim is successful, the solicitor will charge a fee based on the number of hours that they spent on the case. The solicitor will also be entitled to up to 25% of the compensation awarded to the client. This is known as a success fee. If the claim is unsuccessful, the fee is simply written off.
Most people in Northern Ireland have heard of no win no fee as a result of nationwide advertising campaigns run by claims management companies. Fewer people are aware that, unlike in England and Wales, no win no fee arrangements are not available in Northern Ireland.
However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The governing body for all solicitors in Northern Ireland is The Law Society of Northern Ireland and they do not permit no win no fee claims. In England and Wales, there are some legal sector experts that are of the view that it should be banned there too. The Legal Ombudsman published a report that outlines the reason some hold this view. No solicitor in Northern Ireland can offer you a no win no fee arrangement without potentially breaking the law.
As officers of the court, we believe that everyone should have access to justice and that financial barriers should be reduced where possible. We also believe people are entitled to the compensation awarded to them – All of it. That’s why solicitors in Northern Ireland have different legal fee arrangements that are arguably much fairer and accessible.
At McCartan Turkington Breen, we have several payment options available that vary depending on the type of case and the client’s individual circumstances. We offer a free initial consultation, during which, a solicitor can provide details and outline your options. For example, we may be able to apply for Legal Aid. Or, we might be able to secure legal expenses insurance which means you only pay a small premium should the claim be unsuccessful.
There are no hidden fees or unexpected bills during any part of the client’s journey. We practice cost transparency across our entire portfolio of legal services and ensure every client is aware of the risks and costs of taking a case. You can view those services here.
If you would like to know more about our payment options, visit our dedicated page on costs or contact us for a more comprehensive breakdown.
Talk with one of our expert solicitors.
We offer free, confidential and no obligation initial consultations across our entire portfolio of legal services.
"*" indicates required fields
