The rule states that lawyers cannot charge more than half (50%) of the settlement amount (after refunds and outlays have been deducted). The rule is in place to protect an injured person from being “worse off” financially after pursing a claim. 

What are the big firms charging?

Some firms will charge injured clients right up to 50% even when it is not necessary to do so. They do this by adding 25% uplift fees plus up to 30% in care and consideration fees – sometimes that can add an extra 55% to your bill – talk about bill shock. 

To put that in perspective, if your legal fees were in the order of $150,000 that can then become a legal bill (that you pay to the law firm) of $243,750 plus GST. That is a difference of $93,750 which should be going into your pocket, not the law firms. 

At Bowes Legal we are fiercely against this unethical way of charging. 

You will only be charged for the work we do on your file; no secret uplift fees will be added at the end.