Our Charges | cullenlegal

_{Our Charges}

_{Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence/ Dental Negligence}

_{We often conduct legal work, in appropriate cases – including personal injury, clinical negligence and dental negligence cases on a Conditional Fee Agreement and in criminal injury compensation cases on a Contingency Fee Agreement. This involves clients paying a contribution to their legal costs of a sum equivalent to 25% of their total damages, inclusive of VAT. A client’s contribution to legal costs is payable at the end of a successful case.}

_{Clients will be required to pay for disbursements throughout their legal claim as and when such disbursements arise. Disbursements are typically costs which we incur for documents or reports from outside third parties, which are needed to further your legal claim. If you win your case, the disbursements you have paid may be recoverable from the other party in your case, but there could be a shortfall which you will not recover}

_{We sometimes work under the indemnity of an insurance policy which the client had in place prior to their legal claim arising. The client is then insured for all costs and disbursements incurred in their legal claim. If a client does not have legal insurance already in place may be able to assist clients to obtain After the Event Legal Expense Insurance to litigate cases where it is deemed appropriate to protect clients from being at risk of adverse legal costs and/or disbursements In taking a case to court. Any after the event insurance premium will be paid by the client from their compensation in part in clinical negligence cases or in full for any other personal injury case. Each case must be individually assessed for the most appropriate funding arrangement when the initial appointment takes place.}

_{Employment Law/ Civil & Commercial Litigation}

_{If we undertake work for a client on a private basis which includes employment law work and civil and commercial litigation matters then our private charging rates are as follows:-}

_{Fee Earner Status Hourly Rate Routine letters/tel call}

_{Paula Cullen LL.M Director- Solicitor £250.00 + VAT £25.00 + VAT}

_{Charges are applicable from 01.03.2021 and are reviewed annually. If the charging rate changes then clients will be notified in advance of any change.}

_{HOURLY RATE}

_{We charge an hourly rate for the work we do for you. We charge a £250 plus VAT per hour. VAT is currently charged at a rate of 20%.}

_{All time is recorded so you are charged only for the work which is done. We shall also provide you with regular monthly invoices so that you are aware of the costs being incurred as your case progresses.}

_{If we are acting for you in a tribunal claim, the cost will be in the region of £7,000 to £10,000 for a wrongful or unfair dismissal or around £10,000 to £12,000 for discrimination claims. These figures are preliminary estimates only. Costs could be higher or lower than this estimate. This will depend upon how the case progresses and how complex the case is. Costs will be less if the case settles early.}

_{Factors which impact on the above fee estimates and increase costs include the following:}

_{the complexity of the issues}
_{the value of the claim}
_{the volume of documents}
_{the number of claimants and whether they are legally represented}
_{the number of respondents and whether they are legally represented}
_{the number of witnesses}
_{whether it is necessary to make or oppose applications for orders from the Tribunal}
_{the number of preliminary hearings ahead of the final hearing}
_{any subsequent remedy hearing if required.}

_{The cost of representing you in an Employment Tribunal claim could be less than the preliminary estimates given above if the case settles early or if the case does not proceed to the final hearing for any reason.}

_{The above also illustrates that the costs could be significantly higher, depending upon the facts of the case.}

_{The above preliminary estimates anticipate the following key stages in a tribunal claim:}

_{Taking initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising on merits, weaknesses and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change).}
_{Preparing and filing a claim and/or a response.}
_{Reviewing and advising on claim or response from the other party.}
_{Preparing the schedule of losses and/or considering and advising on the claimant’s schedule of loss.}
_{Preparing for and/or attending preliminary hearing.}
_{Exploring settlement as and when appropriate throughout the process.}
_{Collating and considering relevant documents and exchanging documents}
_{Considering and advising on the other side’s documents.}
_{Agreeing and preparing a bundle of documents for the Final Hearing.}
_{Taking, preparing/drafting and exchanging witness statements and considering and advising on the content of the other side’s statement(s).}
_{Agreeing a list of issues to be decided by the Tribunal at the final hearing, a chronology and/or cast list where appropriate.}
_{Preparation for and attendance at Final Hearing and advising on outcome. Instructing Counsel to attend the hearing if deemed appropriate}

_{If any of the above steps are not necessary, costs could be less than the estimates provided above.}

_{LIKELY DISBURSEMENTS/EXPENSES}

_{Disbursements are expenses related to your case which are payable to third parties. Tribunal fees have been abolished but they may be re-introduced in the future.}

_{Other likely disbursements in tribunal claims are experts’ fees and barristers’ fees. The amount a barrister charges will depend upon his seniority and the complexity of your case and these would be agreed with you in advance.}

_{LIKELY TIMESCALES}

_{The time that it takes from taking initial instructions to the final hearing and/or resolution of a matter depends largely on the stage at which the case is resolved. If, for example, a settlement is reached before the issue of the claim, the case is likely to take four to six weeks. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.}

_{If the claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, then its likely duration depends how complex the issues are and how long the hearing is estimated to last and/or when it can be listed by the Employment Tribunal. For example, a simple wrongful dismissal claim with a time estimate of half a day is likely to take around three to four months to complete. In contrast, a complex unfair or constructive dismissal claim or a discrimination claim scheduled to be heard over three or more days could take 12 months or more to conclude.}

_{This is illustrative only and we can give more accurate timescales when we have more information as the matter progresses.}

_{LEGAL EXPENSES INSURANCE}

_{You may have an insurance policy under which your insurer may be liable to cover your legal costs in this matter, provided that they are satisfied that your claim has at least a 51% chance of success. We therefore recommend that you check your insurance policies. We will discuss this with you at your initial appointment. The cover may provide that you should instruct the insurer’s panel solicitor. However, you are in fact entitled to instruct a solicitor of your choice from the date an ACAS Conciliation Certificate is issued. We will guide you through this process.}