Question 1 of 10

You are ten years' call and have been asked to act for one of your previous clients in a new case. They are the defendant. It is a claim for non-payment of a debt of £700. The case is very straightforward; it could easily be covered by a second six pupil. The client has no difficulty paying but wants to defend the claim on principle. The client wants you to represent them and has offered a brief fee of £3,000. This figure is at least ten times more than the usual brief fee for this type of case. The client will not recover this cost from the claimant, even if they win. How should you respond?

A. Refuse to accept these instructions as you would be wasting the client's money. Ask your clerks to allocate the case to a second six pupil. B. Advise the client that they do not need someone of your experience to represent them, and suggest suitable alternative counsel. If the client is insistent, you should accept the instructions as you would be able to do a better job on the case. You do not need to consider the brief fee – it is up to the client how much they want to pay. C. Advise the client that this case is so straightforward that they can represent themselves. Most parties on the small claims track do so. D. Advise the client that they do not need someone of your experience to represent them, and suggest suitable alternative counsel. If the client is insistent, explain to the client that they will not recover your brief fee as this claim will be allocated to the small claims track. Consider whether the brief fee is disproportionate and whether you should agree a lower fee if the client is insistent that you represent them.