No win no fee

This article is in partnership with Smith’s Lawyers.

Without realising it, we have all heard an advertisement for a law firm on the radio or seen one on TV, meaning we have probably also heard the phrase, ‘no win, no fee’. What does that phrase actually mean? Is it legal to offer legal services in Australia under no win, no fee arrangements?

Let’s take a step back and consider what no win, no fee means. Generally speaking, it means that a lawyer agrees to take on a client’s case and not charge any fees for the services rendered until the case is won, either inside or outside a court of law.