What will this cost me?

The Criminal Injuries Claims team here at RAM work on a "No Win, No Fee" agreement basis.

We operate under a fixed percentage agreement, which is only deducted from any successful compensation awarded at the conclusion of your application.

We do not charge any fees if your application is unsuccessful.

However, we reserve the right to charge if you deliberately mislead us or obstruct the progress of your claim, thereby preventing a successful outcome.

As an English-based service, we do not take any percentage from your future losses. Please note that differences in fee arrangements may apply depending on jurisdictional regions, as explained below.

Our success fee reflects our commitment to pursuing the best possible outcome on your behalf.

We are obligated to represent you fearlessly and objectively, assisting you in gathering and evaluating all relevant evidence. We will also advise you on the appropriate next steps and keep you fully informed of what is required from you throughout the process.

We reserve the right to terminate the agreement if, after considering the evidence and circumstances, we determine that continuing is not in your best interests. Should we take this decision, you will not be charged for any work completed. However, we may charge if the decision is influenced by your deliberate dishonesty or lack of cooperation.

You have the right to terminate our agreement without penalty or charges within 14 days of signing.

Generally speaking, we have never needed to charge clients under these circumstances, and our clients rarely face any bills if their application fails.

Understanding Potential Cost Differences When Using Scottish vs. English Solicitors on Success Fees

If you are pursuing a claim on a success fee basis (sometimes called a “no win, no fee” agreement), it’s important to understand how costs may differ depending on whether you instruct a solicitor based in Scotland or England.

In Scotland, success fees are often calculated as a percentage of your total damages, including both past and future losses. This means that if your compensation includes significant future losses, such as ongoing care costs or lost future earnings, your solicitor’s success fee could be calculated on the entire amount. While Scottish law caps these fees using a sliding scale, the inclusion of future losses in the fee base can result in higher overall costs.

In England and Wales, success fees are typically subject to statutory limits, especially in personal injury and clinical negligence cases. Under these rules, success fees apply only to past losses and general damages (e.g., pain and suffering) and exclude future losses. This can significantly reduce the fee payable on claims with substantial future loss components.

However, it’s important to note that these success fee limits mainly apply to personal injury and clinical negligence claims. For other types of civil or commercial cases, success fees can be negotiated more freely.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) Claims — No Regional Restrictions

Many applicants believe that CICA claims must be handled by solicitors in their regional jurisdiction. This is not the case. You can instruct solicitors or legal service providers anywhere in the UK to handle your claim, regardless of where you live or where the incident occurred.

This means you can choose a solicitor or legal team based on expertise, reputation, and fees—without any geographic limitation.

Tribunal Hearings and Additional Costs

If your claim requires a tribunal hearing to dispute a decision, we understand that this can be a stressful and uncertain process. Depending on the prospects of success, we will attend tribunal hearings at no additional cost as part of your agreement.

In contrast, many solicitors treat tribunal hearings as a change in the prospects of success and may switch you to a private retainer arrangement. This can leave applicants facing a legal bill even if the claim ultimately fails.

We believe in transparent and fair pricing and strive to avoid unexpected costs for our clients throughout their claim journey.

What This Means for You

Always compare success fee structures carefully before instructing a solicitor, especially if your claim involves significant future losses.

Ask whether success fees apply to future losses or only past damages, and whether there is a cap.

Remember that for CICA claims, you are not restricted by region, so you can select the solicitor that offers the best service and value.

Choose a solicitor who provides clarity and assurance about costs, including tribunal hearings, to avoid unexpected legal bills.

If you would like advice tailored to your claim or help comparing legal costs, please get in touch. We’re here to guide you transparently and with confidence.