If you think your solicitor has overcharged you, you are not stuck with the bill. There is a formal legal route to challenge it, and recent case law has made that position even stronger.
In particular, the decision in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP has reinforced the importance of how legal work is carried out, not just how much is charged.
Can you challenge a solicitor’s bill?
Yes. Under the Solicitors Act 1974, you can apply to the court to challenge your solicitor’s fees.
This is known as a Solicitors Act assessment.
The court will look at whether the bill is reasonable. If it is too high, it can be reduced.
This applies in situations where:
- Your solicitor’s bill is much higher than expected
- You believe you have been overcharged
- You do not understand the charges
- A large deduction has been taken from your compensation
What does the court look at?
When assessing a bill, the court considers more than just the total figure.
It looks at:
- Whether the work carried out was necessary
- Whether the time spent was reasonable
- Whether the level of fee earner was appropriate
- Whether there has been duplication or inefficiency
This is where recent developments become important.
How
Mazur
affects solicitor’s bills
The decision in Mazur focused on how legal work is carried out within a firm, particularly in relation to supervision and who is doing the work.
The key point is simple.
If legal work is not properly supervised, or is carried out in a way that does not meet regulatory requirements, that can affect whether the costs are recoverable or reasonable.
This has a direct impact on Solicitors Act assessments.
Why this matters if you’ve been overcharged
If your bill includes:
- Work done by junior or unqualified staff without proper supervision
- Tasks carried out inefficiently or duplicated
- Work that should have been done by someone at a lower cost level
Then those issues can now be looked at more closely.
Following Mazur, there is stronger justification for arguing that such costs should be reduced.
In practical terms, it gives clients a stronger footing when challenging their solicitor’s fees.
The 20% rule still applies
Before starting a challenge, it is important to understand the cost risk.
If your bill is reduced by 20% or more, your solicitor will usually be ordered to pay the costs of the assessment.
If the reduction is less than 20%, you may have to pay those costs.
This is why an initial review is important before taking any formal step.
What should you do next?
If you think your solicitor has overcharged you, the first step is to have the bill reviewed properly.
At Cook Legal Costs Ltd, we specialise in challenging solicitor’s bills and advising on Solicitors Act assessments.
We will:
- Review your bill
- Tell you whether it appears excessive
- Advise whether a challenge is likely to succeed
There is no obligation, just a clear answer on your position.
Final thought
Challenging a solicitor’s bill is not just about the amount charged. It is about whether the work was carried out properly in the first place.
The decision in Mazur reinforces that point. If the work is flawed, the bill can be too.