07. Terms used in legal actions

Basic charges
The hourly rate that most solicitors charge to do your legal work.

Claim
How much you are asking for in damages.

Conditional-fee agreement
A way of paying for your case, also known as 'no-win, no-fee'.

Counterclaim
When someone sues you in response to you suing them.

Community Legal Service Fund
What used to be called Legal Aid. This is a fund of government money to help people pay in certain circumstances who can't afford to pay for a legal case themselves.

Damages
The money you win, either in court, or if you settle out of court.

Disbursements
Payments made by the solicitor above and beyond the basic charges, to work on your case. This may include court fees, accident-report fees or expert-witnesses' fees, as well as paying for a barrister to argue your case if it goes to court.

Legal-expenses insurance
Insurance taken out to protect against financial loss as a result of going to court.

Lose
When the court dismisses your claim or you stop the claim.

Success fee
The amount that your solicitor will add to your bill if you win your claim.

Win
When the court decides in your favour, or you settle out of court.