This webinar follows on from Tom’s on 31 July 2024, which looked primarily at the retainer between solicitor and client.  This webinar will look at the many things that can go wrong when advising and billing your client on costs.  

Tom will provide you with the fundamentals on:

• Potential changes to disputes on costs between solicitor and client 
• Billing your client 
• The assessment of costs between solicitor and client 
• How to advise your client on costs budgeting, fixed costs and QOCS    

This webinar will cover the following questions: 

• What is the difference between costs payable between the parties and between solicitor and client?  
• What does the future look like for disputes on costs between solicitors and clients?  
• Reform of the Solicitors Act 1974?
• More involvement of the Legal Ombudsman? 
• What guidance has the Legal Ombudsman provided on costs advice to clients? 
• How to find the balance between advice that provides all relevant information but understandable to the client?  
• What is a statute bill?  
• What are the benefits of delivering a statute bill to the client? 
• Do I need to advise the client about interim statute bills?    
• How does the client apply for an assessment of a solicitor’s bill?  
• Why would the client seek an assessment?  
• What are unreasonable costs and how do I warn the client about them?  
• Does the client need to expressly agree that their liability to the solicitor will exceed fixed recovered costs?  
• If I think the case is going to be subject to fixed costs, what information should I send to the client?  
• Do I need to change my precedent retainer documents in light of the new QOCS rules?