No Win, No Fee Explained: How Solicitors Get Paid
When you hear the phrase “No Win, No Fee”, it might sound too good to be true. How can a solicitor take on your case without charging you upfront? What happens if you win—or if you don’t? Let’s break down exactly what this arrangement means, how it works, and how solicitors get paid.
What Does “No Win, No Fee” Mean?
No Win No Fee Claims Explained:
A No Win, No Fee agreement (also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement) is a way of funding legal claims where you don’t pay your solicitor’s fees if your case is unsuccessful.
This setup is designed to make justice accessible—especially if you don’t have the funds to cover expensive legal costs upfront. In other words: your solicitor takes on the financial risk.
How Solicitors Get Paid If You Win
If your case is successful, your solicitor gets paid in two main ways:
- Recovering Costs from the Other Side
Usually, the losing party is ordered to pay most of your legal costs. This includes your solicitor’s fees and some of the expenses linked to running your case. - Success Fee
Your solicitor may also charge a “success fee.” This is an agreed percentage of your compensation, capped by law (currently 25% for personal injury claims). The success fee rewards the solicitor for taking the risk of running your case without guaranteed payment.
So, while you may not get 100% of your compensation, you also avoid the hefty upfront costs of legal proceedings.
No Win No Fee: What Happens If You Lose?
If your claim is unsuccessful, you don’t pay your solicitor’s fees—that’s the “No Fee” part of the deal.
To protect yourself against the possibility of paying the other side’s legal costs, many firms recommend (or require) After the Event (ATE) insurance. This type of cover ensures you’re not left with a bill if things don’t go your way.
Why Do Solicitors Offer No Win No Fee?
Solicitors don’t take these cases lightly. They carefully assess whether your claim has a strong chance of success before agreeing to represent you. Their business model relies on winning cases, so they’re motivated to secure the best outcome possible.
For clients, the benefit is clear: access to skilled legal support without the fear of spiralling costs.
Key Takeaways
- No Win, No Fee = no upfront solicitor fees.
- If you win, your solicitor’s fees are paid by the other side, plus a capped success fee from your compensation.
- If you lose, you don’t pay your solicitor (though insurance may cover other costs).
- This makes legal help more accessible and spreads the risk.
Final Thoughts
“No Win, No Fee” is a fair and accessible way for people to pursue justice without financial risk hanging over them. If you’re considering making a claim, always make sure you understand the terms of your agreement before signing. A good solicitor will explain the costs clearly and answer any questions you might have.
Considering a claim?
Start your No Win, No Fee claim with an expert solicitor today — safe in the knowledge that there are no upfront costs
Recent No Win No Fee Success Stories
£210,000 compensation - for client who was injured after falling out of a tree at work
(Rob Timewell)
£150,000 compensation - for client who lost two fingers in an accident at work
(Gavin Edmondson)
£75,000 compensation - for a client injured in a fall during a hospital stay
(Gavin Edmondson)
These are just a few recent examples of how our team has helped clients recover significant compensation. All these cases were handled on a No Win, No Fee basis , showing our commitment to client support without upfront financial risk.
If you’ve been injured, you could be next!
Complete our online personal injury claim form to get started:
No Win No Fee Frequently Asked Questions
“No Win, No Fee” (also called a Conditional Fee Agreement) is a funding arrangement where you don’t pay your solicitor’s fees if your case is unsuccessful. If you win, your solicitor is paid through the other side’s costs and a capped success fee.
Under a No Win, No Fee agreement, your solicitor takes on the financial risk of the case. If you win, they recover costs from the losing side and may take a success fee from your compensation. If you lose, you don’t pay your solicitor’s legal fees.
No, you don’t pay your solicitor’s legal fees if your case is unsuccessful. However, you might still be liable for the other side’s legal costs. There are key exclusions to this, such as situations where it has been found that you have been fundamentally dishonest about any aspect of your claim.
Typically, the losing party pays most of your solicitor’s fees. The success fee (if applicable) is taken from your compensation.
A success fee is an additional charge your solicitor takes from your compensation if you win. It reflects the risk they took in running your case without guaranteed payment. In personal injury cases, this fee is legally capped at 25% of your damages.
Solicitors can charge a “success fee,” which is usually a percentage of your compensation. For personal injury cases, this is capped at 25% by law. Your solicitor should explain exactly what percentage applies before you sign anything.
Not always. These agreements are most common in personal injury, medical negligence, and employment claims. Your solicitor will review your case to decide if it qualifies.
Many firms will arrange an ATE insurance policy on your behalf. The premium is usually only payable if you win, and it can sometimes be recovered from the other side.
While you don’t pay your solicitor’s legal fees if you lose, there may still be other costs, such as insurance premiums or expert reports. Always ask your solicitor to explain exactly what is and isn’t covered.
A Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) is the formal legal name for a No Win, No Fee arrangement. It sets out the terms under which your solicitor will represent you, including how fees are handled if you win or lose.
No Win, No Fee solicitors are lawyers who agree to take on your case without charging upfront legal fees. They are only paid if your case is successful, usually through costs recovered from the other side plus a capped success fee.
No Win, No Fee agreements are common in personal injury, medical negligence, and employment claims. Whether your case qualifies depends on your solicitor’s assessment of its strength.
If you lose, you don’t pay your solicitor’s legal fees. However, you may still be liable for the other side’s costs unless you have After the Event (ATE) insurance, which most solicitors recommend.
If you win, the losing party usually pays most of your legal costs. Your solicitor’s success fee (if any) comes from your compensation. If you lose, you don’t pay your solicitor’s fees.
Not all claims qualify. These agreements are most common in personal injury, employment, and medical negligence cases. Your solicitor will assess whether your case has a good chance of success before offering No Win, No Fee.
Related Services
Looking for help with a specific type of claim? Check out our related services below.
- Personal Injury - Explore all types of personal injury claims in one place, from workplace accidents to medical negligence, with clear guidance on how to start your claim.
- Road traffic accidents - If you’ve been injured in a car, pedestrian, or cycling accident, our expert personal injury lawyers can help you claim the compensation you deserve.
- Serious injury - Life-changing injuries need specialist support — we help clients secure the compensation needed for ongoing care, rehabilitation, and financial security.
- Motorcycle Claims - Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable on the road. If you’ve been involved in an accident, our team will fight for the compensation to get you back on track.