Thursday, 21st November 2024
Brisbane Office
44 Herschel Street,
Brisbane QLD 4000
GPO Box 2449
Brisbane QLD 4001
DX 150, Brisbane Downtown
Telephone: (07) 3238 3444
Fax: (07) 3238 3014
Please give us feedback about your experiences using Foolkit and ideas for improvements.
There are private companies that will "back" some cases. Their fees and interest rates reflect the risk involved for them. They may only cover your lawyer's costs, and not cover any costs awarded against you. There are many implications of such arrangements and you need to discuss with your solicitor. Some solicitors choose not to be involved with these arrangements.
Some financial institutions also have special lending arrangements to assist with litigation. Where available, these can be cheaper than litigation funds. But, the money has to be paid back whether you win or loose.
Many personal injury lawyers offer "No Win - No Charge" or "No Win, No Fee" legal services when they believe that a case is reasonably likely to be successful.
It is not a free service. When a successful outcome is achieved (i.e. you are awarded money or perhaps another benefit of some kind), a success fee, or contingency fee is also usually applied. Read through the agreement between you and your lawyer carefully and discuss any questions you may have with your lawyer.
Again, never choose a lawyer on the basis of a "No Win No Fee" arrangement. Choose the best lawyer for you and discuss the issue of costs with them.
Never choose a lawyer on the basis of a "Free First Interview". There is little cost in seeing a solicitor of your choice to find out if you have a case worth pursuing or whether it is the sort of case that you should handle yourself.
If you have a serious case, the cost of the first interview is "the tip of the iceberg".
This is a phrase derived from Latin meaning "for the public good." It describes professional work undertaken by lawyers voluntarily and without payment, as a public service. Unlike traditional volunteerism, pro bono service leverages the specific skills of professionals to provide services to those who are unable to afford them.
Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House (QPILCH) - offers referral to law firms or barristers who may be willing to act for free in appropriate cases if you are unable to afford it or are unable to get legal aid..
They run legal clinics in the special interest areas of Homeless Persons', Refugee Civil Law, Administrative Law (problems with Government) and Mental Health.
They help people to represent themselves in certain areas of the law in QCAT, Appeals, District Court and Supreme Court.
