Learn About The Percentage That No Win No Fee Solicitors Charge

Last Updated 1st August 2024. In this guide, we answer frequently asked questions regarding No Win No Fee solicitors such as “what percentage do No Win No Fee solicitors take?” and “are No Win No Fee solicitors any good?”. In England and Wales, if you are injured or become ill because of negligence by another party, you may be able to make a personal injury claim for compensation. How much you’ll receive if your claim succeeds will depend on the type of injuries sustained and how serious they are.

If you have strong grounds to start a personal injury claim, then you may choose to hire a No Win No Fee solicitor who can support your case. Read on to learn more, including how claiming with a No Win No Fee solicitor works, how payment to a No Win No Fee solicitor is completed and how much No Win No Fee solicitors take for their fees.

Many claimants decide to enter into No Win No Fee Agreements with their solicitor. What does this term mean? A No Win No Fee claim is designed to offer claimants financial protection and the confidence to pursue justice. When a solicitor takes on a claim, they will not ask for any fees upfront or during the case. And if the case is unsuccessful, the claimant will not have to pay any of the fees your solicitor has incurred in pursuing the case. If the claim is successful, the claimant’s solicitor may seek a small contribution from the compensation awarded at the end of the claim to help cover their fees. 

In this guide, we will look at how No Win No Fee claims work, what to expect from working with a No Win No Fee solicitor and if there are any disadvantages of No Win No Fee. We will also answer frequently asked questions, such as what percentage do solicitors take for a No Win No Fee case and how the fee is calculated? 

To begin your No Win, No Fee claim for an accident that was not your fault, call Legal Helpline today for your free personal injury claims consultation. You can call us on 0161 6969 685 or use our online claims form to contact us. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

No Win No Fee written in red on a white background.

Jump To A Section

No Win No Fee Solicitors – How Much Are Solicitors No Win No Fee Charges?

Under normal circumstances without a No Win No Fee arrangement, solicitors or lawyers may charge an upfront fee at the start of the compensation claim for their clients. This fee is either a fixed amount or is charged on a per-hour basis.

No Win No Fee differs from this, as it allows solicitors to work for you without charging an upfront fee. This No Win No Fee funding option could be helpful since legal fees may not be affordable for everyone.

an image of a man in a suit holding up a sign that says "no win no fee solicitor"

In a No Win No Fee claim, No Win No Fee charges will not include upfront legal fees. If your case is not successful, you will not pay legal fees. However, No Win No Fee solicitors will charge a success fee if they win the claim on your behalf.

There are two different types of agreements you can sign up for:

A Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement. Solicitors who operate under a Conditional Fee Agreement could charge a success fee if they win the claim on your behalf. The success fee that can be charged is capped by law at 25% of your compensation. This will be calculated depending on the compensation you receive.

A Damages-Based Agreement (DBA) is also known as a Contingency Fee Agreement. In a DBA, the charge is a percentage of the compensation awarded to you – this is also capped at 25%. This will be a set amount regardless of the work undertaken by the solicitor.

Many firms charge at the maximum rate, but you may find that our panel of solicitors may charge less than 25% so you keep most of your compensation.

What Are The Advantages Of No Win No Fee Claims?

Some people may ask what the actual meaning of No Win No Fee is and what benefits you can enjoy when claiming under such an agreement. There are multiple benefits to pursuing a case with the support of a No Win No Fee solicitor, such as the following:

  1. Because legal aid isn’t available for people making a personal injury claim, using a No Win, No Fee lawyer is a viable alternative. Claimants do not need to pay any upfront fees, meaning they have greater access to justice.
  2. The solicitors firm is taking the financial risk rather than the client. In some cases, such as bringing a case to trial for a serious injury potentially worth millions, the legal fees could reach hundreds of thousands of pounds. 
  3. Personal injury solicitors will not take on a No Win, No Fee case that they do not believe has good prospects of success. Therefore, if a solicitor takes on your case, you will know that making a No Win, No Fee claim is likely to pay off.

'Personal Injury Claims' written on a yellow book on a lawyer's desk with a gavel and a pair of glasses next to it.

What Is A Success Fee And When May It Be Charged?

A success fee is a financial charge made by a solicitor when they succeed in a No Win, No Fee claim. The fee is deducted from the compensation awarded.  When a CFA has been made, success can be defined in one of two ways.

  1. Success can be defined according to the remedy. This means that the claim will be considered successful if compensation is awarded.
  2. Some CFAs will be defined as successful even if the claim is only partially successful. For example, if the client is judged to be partially at fault, so only receives a portion of the compensation they hoped to claim. In such circumstances, the success fee would still be charged.

How Much Is Taken For The Success Fee?

You may be wondering what percentage solicitors take as their success fee if your claim succeeds. The percentage of your compensation that your solicitor can take as their success fee is capped by the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013. Under this legislation, the maximum percentage that can be taken as a success fee is 25% if your solicitor is working under a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement.

However, it’s possible that a solicitor could take less than 25%, though this can depend on a number of factors. Usually, the No Win No Fee percentage your solicitor intends to take will be discussed with you beforehand.

Under a CFA or No Win No Fee agreement, your solicitor will only take a success fee if your claim succeeds. This fee is taken directly from your compensation, and the legislative cap ensures that you keep the most of what you receive.

To find out more about No Win No Fee charges or to learn how a solicitor from our panel could help you, get in touch with our team today.

Best No Win No Fee Solicitors – How To Find The Best Solicitors For Your Case

When seeking the best No Win No Fee solicitor to assist you with your claim, there are a few things to consider. For example:

  • The track record of the law firm
  • If the firm specialises in a certain area of law
  • Whether they can operate on a No Win No Fee percentage basis

A solicitor being based near you is not a requirement. The processes involved in making a claim can all be handled remotely.

Here is what a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel can do for you remotely if you begin a claim with us:

  • Ensure that your claim is accurately and fairly valued. 
  • Send legal correspondence on your behalf.
  • Explain legal terminology to you. 
  • Collect your evidence. 
  • Send you updates throughout the claims process.

To learn more about what percentage do No Win No Fee solicitors take, and to find out whether you can connect with our panel of solicitors, please speak to us today.

No Win No Fee lawyer sits with hands folded waiting to represent your claim.

No Win No Fee Compensation Claims Calculator

If you make a successful claim, your compensation payout could consist of two parts. These are called general and special damages.

General damages are the part of your settlement that compensates you for your physical pain and emotional suffering caused by your injuries. Those responsible for valuing this head of your claim may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) for help. The JCG is a document that lists guideline compensation amounts for different types of injuries.

The table below provides a few figures from the JCG. However, the top row is not from the JCG. As every claim is different, the table does not represent the value of your personal injury compensation. Please only use it as guidance.

InjurySeverityNotesPotential Compensation
Multiple Serious Injuries and Related CostsSeriousSettlements could include compensation for more than one injury of a serious nature plus any related expenses including lost wages and medical costs.Up to £1,000,000+
Brain DamageVery Severe (a)Injured persons lack a meaningful response to their environment and need nursing full time.£344,150 to £493,000
Leg - AmputationsLoss of Both Legs (a) (i)In these cases, either both legs are amputated above the knee or one leg is lost above the knee with the other below.£293,850 to £344,150
Back Severe (a) (i)Injuries in this bracket involve very serious consequences from damage to the nerve roots and spinal cord.£111,150 to £196,450
Arm Severe (a)Although these injuries fall short of amputation, the injured party is little better off.£117,360 to £159,770
Neck Severe (a) (ii)The claimant has considerably severe disabilities from serious fractures or damage to the cervical spine.£80,240 to £159,770
Knee Severe (a) (i)The injured person suffers a serious knee injury with joint disruption.£85,100 to £117,410
Hand Serious Damage to Both Hands (b)These injuries cause a significant function loss and permanent cosmetic disability.£68,070 to £103,200
AnkleSevere (b)Injuries in this bracket require extensive treatment and cause significant residual disability. £38,210 to £61,090

Special Damages For Personal Injury Claims

Under special damages, you could be reimbursed for the monetary losses caused by your injuries. This part of your settlement can include compensation for:

  • Medical expenses, such as prescription costs and physical therapy
  • Home help, such as nursing care or the cost of hiring a cleaner or housekeeper
  • Loss of earnings, including present and future losses. For example, pension contributions or if you cannot return to work in the same capacity as prior to the accident
  • Travel costs, including taxi and bus fares to medical appointments

To recover your financial losses as part of your claim, you should submit evidence. This can be any combination of invoices, bank statements, wage slips, receipts or anything else that proves your spending as it relates to your injury.

A member of our advisory team can answer any questions you have regarding potential compensation amounts when you get in touch.

Talk To Legal Helpline About Your No Win, No Fee Claim

If you have become sick or injured because of an accident that was not your fault (such as a public liability accident), speak to Legal Helpline today to see if you are entitled to compensation. If we can see that you could have grounds to claim compensation, we could connect you to an excellent personal injury solicitor who will start working on your case right away.

Why choose to work with Legal Helpline to make a personal injury claim?

  • The solicitors we work with have an excellent track record of winning personal injury claims.
  • Our panel of solicitors have thirty years of experience handling claims like this, so your claim is bound to be in safe hands.
  • The personal injury lawyers that we work with will always push to win you the maximum amount of compensation you could be entitled to claim, so you won’t be short-changed.

Call us today on 0161 6969 685 for your free No Win, No Fee claims consultation, or use our online claims form to reach out to us. If you have legitimate grounds to claim, we would love to represent you.

A legal advisor takes notes from an injured woman in a neck brace. There is a gavel on the table.

Resources And References

Edited by REG