I suffered minor injuries in a fall and inquired about a compensation claim. A solicitor offered me a “no win, no fee” arrangement, but I understand that I could be liable for the other party’s legal fees if I lost the case. I told the solicitor I wasn’t prepared to take the risk. Can I be charged for the work done so far?
The solicitor should have explained the ins and outs of the conditional fee system to you before taking on your case. You should have been offered insurance which would cover you in the event that you lost, but in any case a claimant can only become responsible for the defendant’s costs in exceptional circumstances, for example where dishonesty is involved. Discuss the issue with your solicitor again.