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Think Ive been conned by my solicitor. Who can I speak to?

  • 27-09-2015 6:58pm
    #1
    Terry Sam
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 7 ✭


    I will try summarise the situation as succintly as possible and all feedback is welcome on it.

    I engaged in the services of a solicitor for something and he informed his hourly rate was X. I told him that Id rather do an overall agreement on a price for the whole thing and he said he couldnt but if we won the case he would ask for about 15% of the winning sum.

    So not exactly "no win, no fee" but as good as he could do.

    The other side now want to settle and it is only now, many months later, that my solicitor says his fees are 8 thousand euros on the clock!

    He sent me out a contract at the beginning of all this but I never signed it and he never brought it up again. His asking fee from hours clocked up is more like 80% of the settlement fee been offered and Im very annoyed. Even if it was 50% it still isnt what we verbally agreed on.

    Who can I speak to about this and why cant solicitors just be bloody fair? I didnt expect him to work for nothing but this fee is taking the piss.

    Who is the governing body of Irish solicitors?

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    MarkAnthony
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭MarkAnthony


    The Law Society.

    He sent you a contract and you didn't think it was worth returning? Why can't clients just be bloody fair and why can't they pay the agreed rate on paper?


  • #3
    shy-tall-knight
    Closed Accounts Posts: 349 ✭✭shy-tall-knight


    Here is the Law Society's guide to legal charges

    https://www.lawsociety.ie/Documents/pdfs/LegalCharges.pdf


  • #4
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Is the settlement being offered an "all-in" figure (i.e. Inclusive of costs) or a figure plus costs to be taxed in default of agreement.

    Because if you're settling there's a decent chance the other side may be paying your costs in which case you may not be on the hook for this 80% figure at all.

    I think you need to speak to your solicitor about this frankly


  • #5
    jimmycrackcorm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,378 ✭✭✭✭jimmycrackcorm


    Perhaps you shouldn't settle unless you get your award exclusive of fees.


  • #6
    Fred Swanson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 21,730 ✭✭✭✭Fred Swanson


    This post has been deleted.


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  • #7
    Pat Mustard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,554 ✭✭✭Pat Mustard


    Fred Swanson wrote: »
    This post has been deleted.

    I wouldn't agree that it is so difficult to settle matters with legal costs on top. Whilst it may be attractive for insurance companies to settle matters all-in, this is not usually a very favourable deal for the plaintiff, in my experience.

    Therefore, if insurance companies refuse to play ball, the answer is often to run the matter into court.


  • #8
    Dandelion6
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,405 ✭✭✭Dandelion6


    Is it not a breach of the Regulations to ask for a percentage of the award. Or have things changed recently?


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