Here’s the full picture behind this week’s explainer, including how a conditional fee agreement actually works and what’s set out in writing from the start.
The Short Answer
No, there’s no truth to the idea of hidden costs with NJS Law’s no win, no fee arrangements. We act for most clients on a conditional fee agreement (CFA), which removes the need for any upfront payment of costs. If a claim is successful, a deduction is made from the compensation recovered; if it’s unsuccessful, no deduction is made and there’s no money for the client to pay. The full details are set out in the retainer from the outset, so clients know exactly the basis on which we’re acting.
How Does a Conditional Fee Agreement Work?
A conditional fee agreement, often referred to as no win, no fee, is designed to remove cost as a barrier to making a claim.
“Here at NJS Law, we act for most of our clients on a conditional fee agreement. So the no-win, no fee agreement that you referred to, what the CFA does is it eliminates the need for the client to make any upfront payment of costs or pay for the solicitor’s costs as the matter progresses.” From the video, 0:08
You can read more about how No Win No Fee Claims work on our No Win No Fee page.
What Happens If the Claim Succeeds or Fails?
The outcome of the claim determines what, if anything, a client pays.
- Successful claim: a deduction is made from the compensation recovered.
- Unsuccessful claim: no deduction is made, and there’s no money for the client to pay.
“What the CFA provides for is, if our client is successful and recovers compensation, then there would be a deduction from the compensation to the solicitor. If the claim is unsuccessful, there is no deduction made. There is no money for the client to pay to us.” From the video, 0:19
Worried About the Cost of Claiming?
Our team can explain exactly how a conditional fee agreement would apply to your situation, no cost, no obligation.
How We Decide Whether to Offer a CFA
A conditional fee agreement isn’t offered blindly. We assess each claim at the outset to consider whether it has reasonable prospects of success.
“What we would do is we would assess the claim at the outset. If we felt there were reasonable prospects of success, we would be able to offer our client a conditional fee agreement, and we would act on that basis.”From the video, 0:29
Everything Set Out in Writing
Where a CFA is offered, the full details are set out in the retainer agreement, so clients know from the outset exactly the basis on which we’re acting. Provided the terms of that retainer are complied with, there are no so-called hidden charges.
“The full details would be set out in our retainer, so the client knows from the off the basis on which we are acting, and provided they comply with the terms of that retainer, there are no so-called hidden charges, as you refer to.” From the video, 0:36
For a broader look at the claims process, see our How Personal Injury Claims Work guide
Think You May Have a Claim?
Get in touch and we’ll explain exactly how our fee arrangement would work for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The full details of a conditional fee agreement are set out in the retainer from the outset, so there are no so-called hidden charges, provided the terms of the retainer are complied with.
If the claim is unsuccessful, no deduction is made and there’s no money for the client to pay.
A deduction is made from the compensation recovered, as set out in the retainer agreement.
We assess each claim at the outset, and where we consider there to be reasonable prospects of success, we’re able to offer a conditional fee agreement.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Speak to our team today and find out exactly where you stand.
Conclusion
Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to finding out whether you have a claim. With a conditional fee agreement, the terms are set out clearly from the start, so there’s no room for hidden charges to creep in further down the line.