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Frequently Asked Questions

I don’t know if I can afford to see a solicitor?Livingstons

Seeking advice from a Solicitor need not be as expensive as you may think. Livingstons offers all prospective clients an initial free half hour consultation at which an initial view can be taken as to the merits or issues in your case.  At the initial interview, we would also advise you about our charges and whether “Legal Aid” or other funding arrangements are available.

What about “No Win-No Fee” Legal advice?

In certain types of cases (notably Personal Injury and Employment matters) Livingstons are able to offer “no win, no fee” arrangements to cover potential legal costs.  “No win, no fee” arrangements are usually only offered in cases which have a good chance of success.

In Personal Injury cases, cases taken under our “no win, no fee” arrangements mean that we will be working for nothing unless your claim is successful, in which case your legal costs are almost certain to be paid by the other side. In addition, we will fund any disbursements, such as the cost of a medical report, Court fees etc. If your case in unsuccessful, you may be required to pay the other side’s costs. To protect you from this risk, we will take out an insurance policy and we will fund the premium. This insurance protects you against having to pay disbursements and the other side's costs and the insurance premium itself is insured.

All of this means that we do not ask you for any money at any stage. If we are successful in your claim we normally charge a success fee but this is paid for by the other side. We make no deductions from the damages you receive.

Livingstons also take some types of Employment Tribunal claims on a “no win, no fee” basis.  In the Tribunal, it is not usual for the losing side to pay the winning side’s legal costs.  As such, there is very little risk of you being asked to pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful.  At the start of the case, we would agree a percentage of your compensation which we would be paid in the event that your claim is successful.  If you win, you pay us the agreed percentage to cover our fees.  If you lose, you pay us nothing.

Do Livingstons offer Legal Aid?

Livingstons hold contracts with the Legal Services Commission to provide Legal aid (public funding) in Family and Employment cases.  Public funding is only available to clients with limited income and savings.  All solicitors are limited in the amount of work that they can do under the public funding scheme, but we would discuss your eligibility for public funding and the extent of the help available at your initial, free half hour consultation.

What hours are Livingstons Offices open?

Our three offices all have the same opening hours.  Normal opening hours are 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday. Outside these hours an answer phone service is available.  

Will you come to me?

Our staff travel between our offices to see clients and, wherever possible, we will arrange your appointments for the office which is most convenient for you.
 
Our Dalton office is easily accessible for wheelchair users, but if you would prefer not to travel to Dalton or have limited mobility, we offer home appointments at no extra charge.  We will also visit clients in hospital at no extra charge.

Do you only represent clients in the area?

No.  Although most of our clients live or work in Cumbria or North Lancashire, we have an ever-increasing number of clients from further afield.  We are constantly developing and updating our IT with the result that our “e-business” is becoming common practice.

 

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