We introduced our No Win No Fee arrangement to make expert legal support available to everyone – not just those who can afford it.
Since its introduction, No Win No Fee has provided access to justice and legal representation for thousands of Australians across the country.
How does the No Win No Fee arrangement work?
No Win No Fee means that you only pay for the work we do on your case if you win your claim. Depending on your claim, this might include:
- Talking to you and providing legal advice.
- Reviewing your medical records and other evidence.
- Reading or writing letters or other documents.
- Our time briefing barristers on your claim.
- Negotiating and going to conferences or mediations.
- Preparing documents for court or tribunal.
In the scenario that your claim goes to court and you are unsuccessful, you may be required to pay part of the other party’s legal costs. You will also be required to pay for third party costs and disbursements such as barrister’s fees and expert’s fees. Your lawyer will advise you of any risks well in advance of any potential litigation.
Our legal costs are made up of three parts:
- Fees – the work we do on your case.
- Disbursements – expenses for building your case, such as medical reports, court fees, and barrister fees.
- GST – goods and services tax.
How much do No Win No Fee lawyers charge?
A common misconception is that No Win, No Fee lawyers take a percentage cut out of your compensation. This is called a contingency fee, and in litigious personal injury cases, this method of charging strictly prohibited in Australia.
Instead, our fees are determined by the work we do on your claim, regardless of how much compensation you may receive. Our legal costs must be fair and reasonable.
If I win, what will I pay?
If successful, our fees will include an uplift success fee alongside your professional fees. This is calculated at 25% of our professional fees, not of the total settlement offer.
Any disbursements are separate and must be paid upfront or via a disbursement loan. These details will be clearly outlined in your initial appointment.
What are disbursements?
are the out-of-pocket expenses involved in your claim, such as obtaining documents, court filing fees, and barrister fees. They are separate from the fees we charge for the work we do on your case.
As part of the legal service we offer, we pay disbursements upfront for some cases, such as those involving affiliated union members. You’ll only need to cover these costs if your claim is successful.
Understanding No Win No Fee with Senior Legal Counsel, Ike Nwokolo
Understanding No Win, No Fee with Senior Legal Counsel, Ike Nwokolo
Check if you are eligible for an obligation free initial appointment
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What to expect
We’ll listen to you and organise your initial obligation free appointment if we believe you have a strong claim.
You’ll meet with one of our lawyers to discuss your claim and the likelihood of a successful outcome. If we believe you have a strong claim, we’ll explain the next steps and how we’ll determine your legal costs.
If we believe you have a strong claim, we’ll offer to act for you on a No Win, No Fee basis with a legal costs agreement for you to sign. It sets out the work we’ll do, how we’ll charge, and both our rights and responsibilities, as well as the terms on which we’ll represent you.
Once you’ve read, signed, and returned your legal costs agreement, we’ll start working on your claim. This will begin with gathering evidence and building your case. We’ll keep you advised at every step of your claim journey.
No Win No Fee covers a range of claims
Our No Win No Fee lawyers offer arrangements for many of our injury related legal services, including:
As part of our commitment to access to justice for all, we offer a variety of different options. If your claim doesn’t meet the requirements for a No Win No Fee arrangement, or if you prefer to pay your legal costs upfront as you go, we may be able to act for you on a Fee for Service basis. Contact us today to discuss your potential options.
Your obligations
Under a No Win No Fee arrangement, we ask that you:
Tell us openly and honestly everything relevant to your claim, including keeping us updated about any changes to your health, employment status or circumstances.
Provide information, documents, and instructions promptly when requested by us.
Follow all reasonable advice given to you by us or your barrister.
Make sure we have current contact information for you and update us if you change your address, email or phone number.
Check your email and letterbox regularly and make sure you do not overlook any communications from us.
Tell us openly and honestly everything relevant to your claim, including keeping us updated about any changes to your health, employment status or circumstances.
Provide information, documents, and instructions promptly when requested by us.
Follow all reasonable advice given to you by us or your barrister.
Make sure we have current contact information for you and update us if you change your address, email or phone number.
Check your email and letterbox regularly and make sure you do not overlook any communications from us.
FAQs
Your legal fees are based only on the work we do on your case. In other words, you won’t be overcharged.
Disbursements may be charged in addition to legal fees.
If your claim is successful, you’ll usually sign a settlement deed, which outlines when and how much you’ll be paid. Timing can vary depending on your claim, but payments are typically made within a few weeks to a few months of settlement.
While anyone can apply for No Win No Fee, we assess each case individually. This includes reviewing your claim’s likelihood of success and whether No Win, No Fee is suitable for you.
Yes, No Win No Fee regulations vary by state and territory. If your claim is eligible, your lawyer will explain how our No Win No Fee arrangement works during your initial obligation-free appointment.
No, not every case qualifies for our No Win No Fee arrangement. We’ll carefully review your claim to ensure it has strong legal merit and make sure you understand the expected costs and what’s involved, so you know where you stand.
Most cases settle without reaching the courts. If this happens, your legal fees will be based on the work completed up to that point.
Most personal injury claims can be handled on our No Win No Fee arrangement. However, some claim types are not eligible, including but not limited to, employment matters such as unfair dismissal, certain class actions, compulsory acquisition claims, and native title claims.
In some areas where we do offer No Win No Fee arrangements, such as superannuation claims, we also offer Fee for Service options.
Each claim is unique with its own circumstances and requirements. To find out if your case is eligible for this arrangement, contact us today to discuss your potential options.