Solicitors' fees
Solicitors’ fees are the biggest concerns for clients and therefore the Law Society places strict obligations on solicitors to be clear about their fees to their clients. If you have concerns about your solicitor’s fees then you should not be afraid to challenge them. You should request a detailed bill from your solicitor explaining all disbursements that were paid out on your behalf.
From 11th August 2009, any work except court work, can be approved or reduced by requesting a remuneration certificate. There is no charge for a remuneration certificate, however you must first pay half the bill including VAT and disbursements before applying as disbursements cannot be questioned. There is a time limit for applying for the remuneration certificate, which is usually one month but may be longer if your solicitor agrees to waive the time limit.
Alternatively you can ask a court to examine your bill and if they decide that you are entitled to a reduction of more than one fifth then you will not have to pay for the cost of assessment. In order to be certain that the court will assess your bill you should ask for assessment within one month of getting the bill and you should be aware that the court cannot agree to assess the bill if it has been paid. You can also find a costs lawyer by speaking to the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen.
If you are having any issues with your solicitor’s fees or any other problems then you can also make a complaint according to the firms written complaints procedure and the solicitor must give you a copy of the complaints procedure if you ask for it. If this does not resolve the matter then you can always contact the Legal Complaints Service (LCS).
If you would like to obtain advice on your solicitor’s fees then Contact Law can put you in touch with a local dispute / fees solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding expert to help asses your solicitor’s costs please call us at 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.
- Last Updated on 02/03/2010
