Meet the duo behind the Legal Lexi: Victoria Morrison Hughes and Sally Dunscombe. These experts bring many years of experience around the legal services industry to the table. Victoria, a seasoned Costs Lawyer and director of a top legal costs firm, and Sally, the director of multiple thriving businesses in the legal services sector, have joined forces to create a one-of-a-kind company.
Through their extensive experience, have responded to the recent “costs wars” in the legal marketplace by creating a tech-based solution that promises to streamline and simplify the process for everyone involved.
Minimising solicitor- client costs disputes
At The Legal Lexi, our mission is to avoid or at least minimise the “costs wars” between solicitors and their clients under the Solicitors Act 1974. We’re dedicated to empowering clientswith the knowledge they need to understand their solicitors’ charging structure , and to support solicitors in meeting the requirements of informed consent under the Solicitors Code of Conduct.
Legal costs disputes between solicitor and client are extremely detrimental to law firms and go well beyond financial losses. These disputes are equally distressing to the client, who in their mind they have turned to a Solicitor to solve their problems, often, at a time of personal distress:
- Reputation damage: Costs disputes can cause negative publicity for law firms and damage their reputation in the eyes of both current and potential clients.
- Loss of business: Clients may choose to take their business elsewhere if they are dissatisfied with how a costs dispute was handled, not to mention the inevitable poor on-line reviews.
- Increased workload: Resolving costs disputes is time-consuming for fee earners and diverts resources away from more productive tasks.
- Regulatory consequences: If solicitors fail to meet their obligations under the Solicitors Code of Conduct , they may face disciplinary action and potential sanctions from regulatory bodies.
- Financial consequences: Solicitors will have to spend valuable time resources and money on resolving costs disputes, and they may be required to pay back monies which have already been banked and billed. Moreover, these types of disputes can be particularly expensive as presently such disputes are allocated to the multi-track where costs are assessed on the indemnity basis. This means they are not restricted to proportionality and any doubt as to reasonableness is likely to be resolved in favour of the client.
It is important for law firms to have a clear, transparent, and effective approach to managing legal costs and avoiding disputes, to maintain a positive reputation, attract and retain clients, and avoid any legal consequences.
The importance of obtaining informed consent
Informed consent “is a process by which a person is provided with enough information to make an informed decision on a particular action, including the risks and benefits”. In the context of legal fees, informed consent refers to a client’s agreement to the fees and charges proposed by their solicitor after being fully informed about the scope of the work to be performed, the risks and costs involved.
Informed consent requires that the client understands the information provided on proposed fees and charges, and that they voluntarily agree to them without any “coercion or undue influence”.
The client must be provided with enough information to make an informed decision, including an explanation of the work to be performed, the expected costs, and any alternative options before engaging their Solicitor .
Informed consent from clients about legal fees is important for several reasons:
- Professional obligations: it is a requirement under the Solicitors Code of Conduct, which sets out both ethical and professional standards that solicitors must follow.
- Client trust: By obtaining informed consent, solicitors demonstrate their commitment to transparency and fairness, which helps to build trust with their clients.
- Legal protection: If a client disputes the fees charged, the solicitor must demonstrate that the client was fully informed and agreed to the charges beforehand. The ability to prove informed consent can help to protect the solicitor from potential legal action.
- Better client relationships: Clients are more likely to be satisfied with the services provided when they have a clear understanding of what they will be paying for, and this can lead to stronger and more positive relationships between solicitors and clients.
- Professionalism: Obtaining informed consent on fees is a fundamental aspect of good professional practice and demonstrates that solicitors take their obligations to their clients seriously.
Our solution
Our cutting-edge App provides solicitors with all the tools they need to clearly and transparently communicate the scope of the work to be performed and the associated costs in a simple and easy to understand way, ensuring that their clients can make fully informed decisions.
With a focus on preventing costs disputes and promoting fairness and transparency, the Legal Lexi is the must-have App for any law firm that wants to streamline the informed consent process and improve client relationships.
Say hello to a brighter, more efficient, and more client-centric-focused future with The Legal Lexi. Embrace the power of technology to enhance your practice and elevate your reputation