Since 2017 a solicitor has to advise you about mediation before proceedings issue and confirm that in a statutory declaration. We take that seriously, not as a formality.
The things people ring us about first.
What will it cost
We give a written estimate at the outset and update it at each stage. Litigation costs are hard to fix, but you should never be surprised by a bill.
How long will it take
District Court matters can be heard within months. Circuit and High Court cases often take one to three years to a hearing. Settlement can happen at any point.
If I win, do I get my costs back
Usually the court orders the loser to pay the winner's costs, but rarely all of them, and only if the loser has the means. Cost risk runs both ways.
What is a letter before action
A formal letter setting out your claim and giving the other side a chance to resolve it. Courts expect to see one and may penalise a party who skipped it.
Is a neighbour dispute worth it
Sometimes, but boundary and right of way cases are notoriously bitter and expensive. Mediation resolves most of them at a fraction of the cost.
Bring this to a first meeting
The contract or documents at the heart of it, the correspondence, a timeline of events, and the names of anyone who witnessed what happened.
Make an appointmentYour guide, with your own figures.
Read the steps, try the calculator, then create a printable guide with your details to bring to your first appointment.
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