INFORMATION ON LEGAL AID
At Universe Solicitors, we have legal aid contracts for family and criminal matters. Therefore, we are able to provide advice, assistance and representation in family and criminal matters under the legal aid scheme, so long as the client satisfies the merits test and means-test for legal aid for such matters. Information on eligibility for legal aid for family matters is available at: https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid. Information on eligibility for legal aid for criminal matters is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/work-out-who-qualifies-for-criminal-legal-aid
PRIVATELY FUNDED MATTERS
At Universe Solicitors we only undertake privately funded matters where:
(a) The client is not eligible for legal aid under the applicable rules; or
(b) After being advised that we do not provide legal aid in a specific area of law and that the prospective client may be eligible for legal aid by going to another firm, the client expressly agrees to fund their matter privately; or
(c) The client voluntarily agrees to fund their matter without legal aid, for any reason.
Our charges for privately funded matters are based on the complexity of a case and the time we spend in dealing with a case; and where applicable the court or tribunal in which a client’s matter is being dealt with as well as any disbursements (expenses) incurred in dealing with a client’s matter. Time spent on a case include meeting with a client and other relevant parties; any time spent on travelling in furtherance of assisting a client; considering, preparing and working on papers, correspondence and making and receiving telephone calls.
INFORMATION OF PEOPLE WHO CARRY OUT WORK IN OUR FIRM
At Universe Solicitors work for our clients is carried out by solicitors and in some limited cases by trainee solicitors or paralegals. The nature and complexity of a case dictates the level and experience of the person that we allocate to deal with each matter. In accordance with professionally acceptance practice, our solicitors and fee earners are categorised according to their level of experience as follows:
– Solicitors with 8 years or more post qualification experience are classed as “Grade A” fee earners.
– Solicitors with 4 years but less than 8 years post qualification experience are classed as “Grade B” fee earners.
– Solicitors with less than 4 years post qualification experience are classed as “Grade C” fee earners.
– Trainee Solicitors and Paralegals are classed as “Grade D” fee earners.
BASIS OF OUR CHARGES ON TIME BASIS
In the interest of transparency, the current hourly rates for our solicitors and fee earners is based on the prevailing rates recommended by the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO), which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/solicitors-guideline-hourly-rates. In accordance with the SSCO’s guideline rates, as a solicitors’ firm based in outer London, the current rates for our solicitors and fee earner are as follows:
(i) Grade A Fee Earners: £267.00 p/hour.
(ii) Grade B Fee Earners: £229.00 p/hour.
(iii) Grade C Fee Earners £165.00 p/hour.
(iv) Grade D Fee Earners £121.00 p/hour.
The hourly rates above may change in line with any changes to be made by the SCCO.
Routine letters which we write and routine telephone calls that we make and receive will be charged at 10% of the hourly rate of the solicitor or fee earner acting for the client. For example, if a “Grade A” fee earner is working on a matter at a rate of £267.00 per hour and writes a routine letter, the charge for this will be £26.70. Long letters (exceeding half of an A4 page) and long telephone calls exceeding 6 minutes will be charged on time basis. For example, if a “Grade A” fee earner working at a rate of £267.00 per hour spends 30 minutes in writing a long letter on a client’s matter, the fee for writing such letter will be £133.50. If the same fee earner spends 15 minutes on a telephone call it will be charged at the rate of £66.75.
PAYMENT FOR DISBURSEMENTS
We may incur certain disbursements (expenses) to progress a client’s matter. The client will therefore need to pay for such expenses in connection with their case. Examples of such expenses include Court / Tribunal fees, Medical Report fees, Expert fees, Barristers fees, Interpretation / translation fees, travel costs, bank charges, etc.
VAT
As a VAT registered firm, our charges are subject to VAT. The current VAT rate is 20% as set by the HMRC. Our fees for work carried out for a client without leave to remain in the UK will not usually attract VAT. It is worthy to note that VAT rate may change in accordance with guidelines which may be issued by the HMRC.
VAT ON DISBURSEMENTS / EXPENSES
Some disbursements / expenses arising from the fees of third parties we may use to progress a client’s matter such as Experts, Barristers and Interpretation / Translation fees may also attract VAT. We will ask you to pay these on account (i.e. before we incur them), which is normal practice. All disbursements will be shown separately on our Bill of Costs. Court fees are also not subject to VAT.
FEES FOR ADDITIONAL WORK
We will inform a client if any unforeseen additional work becomes necessary (for example, due to unexpected difficulties or if your requirements or the circumstances significantly change during the course of the matter). We will also inform the client of estimated cost in writing before any extra charges or expenses are incurred.
FIXED FEE
In appropriate cases, we may be able to agree a fixed fee to assist a client where it is possible to estimate the time that will be spent on a matter. This is likely to be the case where the matter is straight-forward, such as assisting a client to make an application to the Home Office; a straight forward appeal against refusal of leave to remain; or advising on a Settlement Agreement for an employment matter; a one-off representation at a Magistrates court hearing for an uncontested matter involving a guilty plea; or a one-off representation in a family matter for a Child Arrangement order. Our fixed fees are usually based on the estimated time to be spent on a case. Thus, for example, the fixed fee for a matter that will not exceed two hours will be £500 and a fixed fee for a matter that will not exceed four hours will be £1000.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A FIXED FEE AGREEMENT
(i) For an Immigration / Asylum matter:
Any fixed fee we agree would include:
– Attendance and Preparation, including obtaining instructions, considering the papers and evidence;
– Taking statements from the client and any relevant witnesses; and
– Providing advice on the merits of the matter such as possible outcome for an immigration application to the Home Office or representation at a single hearing at the First-Tier Tribunal for an immigration / asylum appeal.
What is Not Included in a fixed fee agreement:
Additional costs for:
– Home Office fees for the relevant application, NHS Surcharge, fee payable for Home Office Biometric documentation, Tribunal appeal fees, as well as the fees for any expert, medical report, barrister’s fee, Interpreters’ Fee or Translators’ fee for translating any document in a foreign language, etc.
– Any additional disbursement / expenses for travel costs outside London and the M25. We would not charge for travel costs / expenses within London and M25.
Key Stages for a sample Immigration / Asylum case:
The key stages for a typical Immigration / Asylum case under a fixed fee agreement are as follows:
– The client will meet with the solicitor or fee earner allocated to deal with the matter, to obtain instructions on the facts and nature of the case.
– We will consider any available papers and other evidence provided by the client and advice the client accordingly.
– Explain the Home Office application procedure or Tribunal appeal process to the client so that the client knows what to expect.
– Send a Client Care letter as soon as possible but no later than 7 days, to confirm the client’s instructions.
– Arrange to take any witness statements, if necessary.
– Obtain further instructions from the client (if necessary) and answer any follow-up queries which the client may have, as well as carry out any further preparatory work.
– If the matter relates to an application to the Home Office, the client will be given opportunity to go through and agree the content of the application before it is sent to the Home Office.
– If the matter relates to an appeal, will prepare and send the hearing bundle as well as attend Tribunal with the client on the day of the hearing and meet the client before the hearing. The time spent at the Tribunal will depend on the case and when the matter is called. We will discuss the outcome of the hearing with the client.
– On receipt of a decision from the Home Office or the Tribunal’s decision we will discuss the outcome with the client and agree further steps, if necessary.
– Any further steps which may be necessary, will be subject to additional fees to be agreed.
How long it takes to conclude an immigration / asylum matter:
No two cases are the same. Therefore, the length of time it takes for each case to conclude will depend on the nature and the facts specific to each case. The factors that determine the length of time it takes for a case to be concluded will include, but not limited to how long it takes the Home Office to make a decision on a case; or how long it takes the Tribunal to list an appeal for a hearing.
We cannot provide a timescale as to when the Home Office will make a decision on an application or when a Tribunal hearing will take place, as this is outside our control.
(ii) For a sample of summary offence in the Magistrates Court:
Any fixed fee we agree would include:
– Attendance and Preparation, including obtaining the client’s instructions, considering the papers including charge sheet or summons and any other information disclosed by the prosecution and available evidence;
– Taking statements from the client and any relevant witnesses;
– Providing advice on the court procedures and likely sentence following a guilty plea.
What is Not Included in our fixed fee agreements for summary offence in the Magistrates court
Additional costs for:
– Fees for any expert, medical report, barrister’s fee, Interpreters’ Fee or Translators’ fee for translating any document in a foreign language, etc.
– Any additional disbursement / expenses for travel costs outside London and the M25. We would not charge for travel costs / expenses within London and M25.
(iii) The key stages for a typical case in the Magistrates Court where there has been a guilty plea and a date has been fixed for sentencing hearing are as follows:
– The client will meet with the solicitor or fee earner allocated to deal with the matter, to provide instructions on the facts and nature of the case.
– We will consider initial disclosure from the prosecution and any other evidence and advice the client accordingly.
– Send a Client Care letter as soon as possible but no later than 7 days, to confirm the client’s instructions.
– Arrange to take any witness statements, if necessary.
– Explain the court procedure so that the client knows what to expect on the day of the hearing and the sentencing options available to the court.
– We will conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from the client if necessary and answer any follow up queries which the client may have.
– We cannot provide a timescale of when a hearing will take place, as this depends on the court listing for that day.
– We will attend court on the day and meet with the client before the hearing. The time spent at court will depend on the peculiar facts and circumstances of each case. We will discuss the outcome with the client.
– Any further steps which may be necessary, will be subject to additional fees to be agreed.
How long the matter will take
No two cases are the same. Therefore, the length of time it takes for each case to conclude will depend of the nature and the facts specific to each case. The factors that determine the length of time it takes for a case to be concluded will include, but not limited to, the plea entered by the client and the court listing on the hearing date, how long the hearing lasts, etc.
(iii) For non contentious Employment matter
Any fixed fee we agree would include:
– Attendance and Preparation, including obtaining the client’s instructions, considering the papers such as the contract / terms and condition of employment, any Settlement Agreement proposed by the employers, etc.
– Providing advice on the client’s employment rights and the adequacy of any settlement offer proposed by the employer, etc.
What is Not Included in our fixed fee agreements for a non contentious employment matter.
Additional costs for:
– Fees for any barrister’s opinion, etc.
The key stages for a typical non contentious employment matter are as follows:
– The client will meet the solicitor or fee earner who is allocated to deal with the case, to provide instructions on the matter.
– We will consider papers provided by the client, including copy of contract / terms and condition of employment, copy of any settlement agreement proposed by the clients’ employers, and any other relevant papers; and advice the client accordingly.
– Send a Client Care letter as soon as possible but no later than 7 days, to confirm the client’s instructions.
– We may enter into negotiations with the client’s employers, if appropriate and subject to the client’s instructions, to try and achieve a better offer of settlement, if necessary.
– Advise the client on whether or not to accept any final offer of settlement proposed by the employer.
– If the client accepts and sign the offer made by the employer by way of a Settlement Agreement we would counter sign the Advisers Certificate, to conclude the matter.
– If the client does not accept the offer we would advice them of the procedure and time scale to bring a claim in the Employment Tribunal.
– Any further steps which may be necessary will be subject to additional fees to be agreed.
How long the matter will take
No two cases are the same. Therefore, the length of time it takes for each case to conclude will depend of the nature and the facts specific to each case. The factors that determine the length of time it takes for a non-contentious employment case to be concluded will include, but not limited to the length of any negotiations which we may be undertake with the client’s employer, how long the client takes to provide us with relevant documents, etc.
(iv) For a Family Matter (e.g. for a one-off hearing relating to Child Arrangement Order)
Any fixed fee we agree to would include:
– Attendance and Preparation, including obtaining the client’s instructions, considering the papers and evidence;
– Taking statements from the client and any relevant witnesses;
– Prepare the hearing bundle, if necessary.
– Providing advice on the court procedures, the available options and the likely outcome for the proceedings.
What is Not Included in our fixed fee agreement (for a one-off hearing relating to Child Arrangement Order)
Additional costs for:
– Fees for any expert, medical report, barrister’s fee, Interpreters’ Fee or Translators’ fee for translating any document in a foreign language, etc.
– Any additional disbursement / expenses for travel costs outside London and the M25. We would not charge for travel costs / expenses within London and M25.
The key stages for a typical family case (for a one-off hearing relating to Child Arrangement Order)
– The client will meet the solicitor or fee earner who is allocated to deal with the case, to provide instructions on the matter.
– We will consider the information and documents provided by the client as well as advice on the court procedures, the available options and the likely outcome for the proceedings.
– Send a Client Care letter as soon as possible but no later than 7 days, to confirm the client’s instructions.
– Assist the client to prepare a witness statements and / or bundle, if necessary.
– Explain the court procedures so that the client knows what to expect on the day of the hearing, including the options available to the court and the likely outcome, taking into account facts specific to the case.
– We will conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from the client if necessary and answer any follow up queries the client may have.
– We cannot provide a timescale of when a hearing will take place, as this depends on the court listing for that day.
– We will attend court on the day and meet the client before the hearing. The time spent at court will depend on each case. We will discuss the outcome with the client.
– Any further steps which may be necessary, will be subject to additional fees to be agreed.
How long the matter will take
No two cases are the same. Therefore, the length of time it takes for each case to conclude will depend of the nature and the facts specific to each case. The factors that determine the length of time it takes for a case relating to a Child Arrangement order to be concluded will include, but not limited to how the opposing party co-operates with a view to resolving the matter, the court listing on the hearing date, how long the hearing lasts, etc.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only and may not necessary be the same for every case.