finding a good solicitor.

melanie_jones · 9 June 2013 at 4:33PM

hi all, ive recently un successfully tried to claim compensation off the council after a bad fall resulting in a fractured foot and a month off work. they have said they don't admit liability but I want to take it further. how do I find a good no win no fee law firm that will not end up with me owing them money? does anyone have any recomendations??? thank you

melanie_jones · 9 June 2013 at 4:38PM

and sorry for putting this thread in the wrong place

chattychappy · 9 June 2013 at 7:05PM

One reason I went into law was because I was fed up with dealing with lawyers that were no good. It is a problem, and not entirely the fault of solicitors. "It's the system" (which solicitors helped create, of course). I have met guys that will work for hours on something for little reward, though that's not the popular image. When I started, my firm's charge out rate for me was £135+VAT/hour. I regularly under-billed to make the resulting cost more sensible. Ridiculous.

Personal recommendation is the best way to go - perhaps through forums. Frankly I still don't know how the public are supposed to find a good solicitor.

Not many people know that some barristers can now take a direct instruction. Search for "direct access barrister". As a generalisation, I've found barristers easier to deal with.

bigadaj · 9 June 2013 at 7:08PM

OP if you see an ambulance then you might find a lawyer chasing it, see if you can flag them down.

InsideInsurance · 10 June 2013 at 9:21AM

melanie_jones wrote: »

hi all, ive recently un successfully tried to claim compensation off the council after a bad fall resulting in a fractured foot and a month off work. they have said they don't admit liability but I want to take it further. how do I find a good no win no fee law firm that will not end up with me owing them money? does anyone have any recomendations??? thank you

Unfortunately for you the laws have changed recently for conditional funding (aka no win, no fee).

Any conditional funding solicitor will not charge you if you lose the case because they will buy ATE insurance to cover the costs so on that side all things are equal.

They however can now only claim a very small amount from the TP/TPI in the event that they win and so most are now charging claimants up to 25% of the winnings as a fee (inc VAT), though settlements are supposed to have risen 10% to partially offset this.

Do you have legal expenses insurance on your Home Insurance? If you do then they will probably cover a claim, if they think you have reasonable prospects of success, and that way you keep all your compensation