Because you cannot recover your legal costs even if you win, many people end up representing themselves in this part of the court system, even when the legal issues involved are not straightforward.
At Hine Solicitors we understand that, for most people, £10,000 is still a significant amount of money, and getting a small claim wrong can be costly in more ways than one.
Because legal costs are not usually recoverable, many people assume it is not worth taking advice before bringing or defending a small claim. In practice, understanding the strength of your case, the evidence you will need and the realistic prospects of success can save you time, stress and money, whatever side of the claim you are on. Going into court without advice, on the assumption the process will look after itself, is where most of the difficulty tends to arise, often at a point when it is too late to put right.
Getting the paperwork right and gathering the right evidence at the outset makes a real difference to how a small claim plays out, whether you are the one bringing it or the one defending it, and it is much harder to fix gaps once proceedings are already under way. We help you think through what you will need to show, what the other side is likely to argue, and whether settling before the hearing is a realistic option worth exploring first.
We can advise on the merits of your case, help you prepare the paperwork the court requires, and arrange representation for you at the hearing itself if you wish to have it, rather than leaving you to work it out from the court’s own guidance notes. Contact us for details of our fees before you go into court without advice, so you know from the outset what the process is likely to cost.
John Young helps with small claims matters at Hine Solicitors. Call us on 01494 685588 or use our contact form and we will explain our fees and how we can help before you decide what to do next.
I’d like to thank you for seeing the court hearing through. A terrific piece of work!
Thank you for a brilliant result.
You have been a tremendous support and a highly efficient lawyer to say the least. Full of empathy and dealt with every little detail perfectly to share the burden equally.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you so much for your professionalism, hard work, and your patience afforded to me through my difficult times. Your support and kindness I shall always remember with gratitude.