No Win No Fee in Northern Ireland

Many online explanations use 'UK' when they mean England and Wales, where conditional fee agreements (CFAs) have been permitted since 1995. Northern Ireland has never adopted an equivalent regime: Part V of the Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 prohibits a solicitor from agreeing to be paid only if a case succeeds, or on a scale linked to the amount recovered, in contentious business. This is a standing statutory prohibition, not a gap in this guide's coverage.

A strategy for access to justice has proposed introducing CFAs in Northern Ireland broadly in line with the Jackson reforms adopted in England and Wales, including a proposed 20% success-fee limit outside road traffic claims. As of the last check for this page, the Northern Ireland Executive had not enacted this proposal, so the 1976 Order's prohibition remains in force. Ask a Northern Ireland solicitor whether the position has since changed.

Northern Ireland solicitors typically charge on a private-fee (hourly rate or fixed-fee) basis, and legal aid remains available for eligible cases and case types through the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland. Before-the-event (BTE) legal expenses insurance, where you already hold a policy, may also cover a case. Ask a Northern Ireland-regulated solicitor to set out your funding options in writing, including their fee basis, likely disbursements, and what happens if the case is unsuccessful.

• What is the solicitor's fee basis, and is it fixed or hourly?
• Am I eligible for legal aid for this type of case?
• Do I have before-the-event legal expenses insurance I can use?
• What disbursements will I be responsible for regardless of outcome?
• How can I complain about fees?

Use the Law Society of Northern Ireland's solicitor directory and verify the office and individual you intend to instruct. This site does not recommend or rank firms.