Small Claims Lawyer
Don’t let the simplification of the legal process lead you to believe you don’t need professional advice to pursue your desired outcome; however, small claims court lawyers are still invaluable in helping you get the result you need.
Our small claims court advice and flexible, low-cost small claims lawyer service are the ideal solution to take the stress out of the small claims procedure. Choose Stormcatcher, and get an initial free 15-minute lawyer consultation and small claims legal advice direct from a consumer or commercial lawyer.
Free Small Claims Lawyer Consultation
What is a small claims court?
A small claims court can bring relatively small and straightforward legal disputes to conclusion without heading down the traditional route of full-scale court proceedings. Designed to be accessible and more informal, small claims courts are a quicker, more cost-effective way to take legal action against a business or individual for claims up to £10,000.
Claims which are over £10,000 and up to £25,000 or are more complex are still heard in the county court but will be allocated to the Fast Track.
Do I need a small claims solicitor?
Although navigating small claims under £10,000 is meant to be carried out without a solicitor, this can lead to mistakes and weak defences. Citizens Advice can’t offer case-specific support, and hiring a solicitor can be expensive.
At Stormcatcher, we’re proud to provide a seamless small claims consultation service for a fraction of the price of a solicitor, and in some cases, we can provide a small claims consultation for free.
For a case review and advice
Book a 1 hour Commercial Lawyer Consultation
£250 + VAT Per hour
Conference will be via Zoom. Terms and conditions apply.
Common reason to go to small claims court
There are many different reasons why you might need a small claims court, but the most common reasons we see include:
- Financial disputes, including unpaid debts, refunds, contractual breaches, and money owed for work that’s been done
- Consumer disputes, such as faulty products and substandard service
- Injury claims
- Property damage
- Rental disputes, such as bad landlord practices or disputes over security deposits
What we can help with
We cover a wide range of matters involving faulty consumer goods and services as well as business-related problems, including consumer goods and services, bad debts and unpaid invoices, building and construction, cars and vans and company disputes. Here are just a few examples of issues we can help with.
Claims above £10,000
Our lawyer consultation service is also available for claims above £10,000 and across the entire spectrum of claim values. This can be useful to find out whether you have a reasonable chance of success in getting your money back or defending the claim.
We have a range of bespoke services tailored to the client in our specialist practice areas of automotive law and construction law and should you go on to instruct us after your lawyer conference we will deduct the consultation fee from your bill.
Faulty goods & products
Been sold a faulty washing machine or a dodgy used car which proved unroadworthy? Had some building work done which doesn’t come up to scratch? Are you struggling to get a refund, replacement or repairs? Get advice in our one-hour consultation on how to make a claim or defend a claim in the small claims track of the County Court. Many small claims arise from consumer rights disputes, and appointing a specialist small claims consumer rights lawyer helps you pursue your claim efficiently, correctly and with full peace of mind.
Owed money
Thinking about making a money claim for an unpaid business invoice or getting money back owed by someone or reimbursement for repairs carried out? We can help with all types of civil litigation heard in the Small Claims Court.
We don’t deal with
- Family matters
- Matrimonial
- Property
- Crime
- Wills
- Personal injury
The benefits of a small claims lawyer
Expertise
The knowledge that a small claims lawyer will hold about both the system and the outcomes available to you will be crucial in getting exactly what you deserve. Their guidance can make the process quicker, less stressful, and likely to result in a favourable outcome for you.
Negotiation
Lawyers are born negotiators, and can, in many instances, negotiate on your behalf for the best settlement, or guide you on how to approach the situation so you can achieve it for yourself.
Jargon translation
You’ll likely be blinded by science when it comes to the legal terminology associated with small claims court cases; the right lawyer can cut to the heart of what all of this means.
How to take a company to court
If you are taking a company to the Small Claims Court due to owed money, failed delivery of goods or services, refusal to give a refund, faulty products, or you are making a complaint about services, you can take legal action through the Small Claims Court. At Stormcatcher, we understand that navigating the legal process of small claims can be confusing and overwhelming, so we can offer advice to help you understand your rights and the steps involved in making a small claim against a business. Give us a call now for initial free advice on how to start a small claims case.
Key stages of a small claims case
Letter of claim
There are specific pre-action protocols for specific types of claims but all including the small claims procedure start with the requirement of the claimant to send a letter of claim or letter before action to the defendant.
The letter of claim must state the amount owed or relief sought and the time limit to respond. However, a succinct presentation of the facts and legal grounds for the claim can help reach an early resolution without going to court.
Particulars of claim
If the letter of claim fails to resolve the dispute, the claim form and the particulars of the claim need to be filled in, presenting the outline of the court case. Professionally drafted particulars of claim including the relevant law, can be invaluable.
The defence
After being served with the claim form, the defendant has 14 days to acknowledge the claim or file a defence. If an acknowledgement is filed the defence has to be filed within 28 days from the date of service of the claim form. A bare denial won’t cut it and a professionally drafted defence can prove invaluable.
Small claims mediation service
Going to court is a serious step and should be a last resort after all other efforts to settle the dispute have failed. However, even after the claim has been issued, claimants and defendants are strongly encouraged to engage in the small claims mediation process which is included in our fixed fee packages.
Affordable small claims solicitors
We’re proud to introduce our accessible lawyer consultation service, allowing claimants and defendants to have an online Zoom conference with a professional who can go through the case, the documents, papers and files in person.
As a result, the special small claims court rules limit almost entirely the amount a successful party can claim from the other for legal and solicitors’ fees.
Although on the one hand, this makes the legal system more accessible, it does mean that getting affordable, quality legal advice from solicitors and lawyers can be a challenge. This, in turn, can lead to people issuing claims that have no legal basis and defendants submitting a defence which has no realistic prospect of succeeding. Equally, experience has taught us that Citizens Advice is ill-equipped to give legal advice and case-specific guidance.
Small claims procedure
Making or filing a small claim is relatively inexpensive and straightforward but is only the tip of the iceberg compared to winning your case.
The process starts simply by filling in the names and addresses of the parties, the amount claimed and a brief description of the dispute, followed by the fee payment.
However, while the claimant is all too aware of the circumstances which have led them to court, cases get dismissed or court costs increase because of the case not being pleaded correctly or a misunderstanding of the law.
At Stormcatcher Small Claims, we help businesses and individuals understand the legal basis of their claim, what they can get compensation for and understand the small claims process.
Our small claims court costs
Our lawyer consultation service offers businesses and individuals the opportunity to have a 1-hour face-to-face conference via Zoom with a lawyer specialising in consumer law, contracts and construction law problems and disputes for £250 + VAT.
In the majority of cases, an hour of law consultation is enough, but for cases worth over £5,000 and up to £10,000, a second conference may be helpful. In any event, this will be a fraction of the cost of instructing a solicitor.
For a case review and advice
Book a 1 hour Commercial Lawyer Consultation
£250 + VAT Per hour
Conference will be via Zoom. Terms and conditions apply.
Our small claims court lawyers
As lawyers and arbitrators with extensive knowledge of the small claims court process, led by Philip Harmer, Stormcatcher Law knows how to advise and guide you towards the outcome you need and deserve. Philips's knowledge and insight are unparalleled, and have been gained through years of experience; he’s keen to use this expertise to help Stormcatcher clients come out on top.
Why choose Stormcatcher Law
Choosing Stormcatcher Law for advice around your small claims court dispute means you have access to a wealth of knowledge. We cover a wide range of matters, including faulty consumer goods and services, bad debts and unpaid invoices, and building, construction, and automotive disputes. As a Stormcatcher client, your peace of mind extends to:
Our expertise and experience
With a deep understanding of small claims disputes, and a special interest in building, construction, automotive, and consumer disputes, we know how to find a path to the best outcome for you.
A stress-free resolution
We do everything we can to settle disputes in a way that saves you time, and money, and protects your stress levels whilst still pursuing a positive result.
If you are gearing up to make a claim through the small claims courts, seek advice from the experts; contact Stormcatcher Law today.
Small Claims Court FAQ
The most frequently asked question at the Citizens Advice Bureau is whether you can take a solicitor to Small Claims Court and you can. However, the fixed court fees and special small claims track rules limit how much you can reclaim for legal fees should you win. Our low-cost fixed-fee small claims lawyer service is designed with this in mind.
The small claims track of the County Court is a quicker and less formal procedure for dealing with claims up to £10,000. Court fees and costs are fixed according to the claim value and civil procedure rules, which also limit the amount either party can claim for solicitors’ fees and legal costs from the loser.
Small claims are still governed by the civil procedure rules which require claimants to send a letter before claim to the other party, setting out the basis of your claim. A defendant should reply setting out the reasons for disagreement and/or the basis for any discussion or negotiation. If no reply is received or no agreement is reached the claim can be filed in court.
Once the claim has been issued the defendant has 14 days to respond. This could be an acknowledgement of service which extends the time to defend the case to 28 days from the date of service or admit the claim or send a defence. If the defendant fails to respond to the claim, judgment in default can be applied for.
If the defendant files a defence, the claimant can file a reply but in any event, the court will send a letter confirming the claim is defended and that the parties have to file a directions questionnaire called an N180 form. This provides information to the court to allow it to decide where and how the case is to be handled.
Despite the case being filed and defended the parties are expected to try and settle the claim without actually going to court. To help with this, free mediation is offered by the small claims mediation service, to try and facilitate a settlement which they will record in a settlement agreement.
Prior to the hearing, the court will send out a notice explaining what information the parties need to submit to the court and each other and when. This will include a witness statement from the claimant and defendant and any other person wanting to attend on their behalf. The documents each party intends to reply on in support of their case will also need to be filed with the court and served on every other party.
A small claims court can bring relatively small and straightforward legal disputes to conclusion without heading down the traditional route of full-scale court proceedings. Designed to be accessible and more informal, small claims courts provide a way for individuals and businesses to resolve financial or civil disputes.
Don’t let the simplification of the legal process lead you to believe you don’t need professional advice to pursue your desired outcome, however; small claims court lawyers are still invaluable in helping you get the result you need. At Stormcatcher, we’re proud to provide this service, and in some cases, can provide a small claims free consultation.
We’re proud to introduce our accessible lawyer consultation service, allowing claimants and defendants to have an online zoom conference with a professional who can go through the case, the documents, papers and files in person.
In a word, yes. The small claims process is intended to be navigated by the parties and anyone who submits a witness statement is expected to attend the final hearing. If a party does not attend the hearing the court may dismiss their case or try the case in their absence.
The costs are limited by the special rules but you will likely be awarded the cost of filing the claim, the hearing fee, and other reasonable expenses providing they can be proved. If you have a solicitor or advocate attend the hearing their costs will also be reclaimable up to the limits set out in the rules. Statutory interest may also be claimed.
More than likely yes, however, the judge will look at the behaviour of the parties during the pre-action stages and may find that one party has behaved unreasonably which may result in what is called adverse costs being awarded.
Yes, our lawyer consultation service is also available for claims above £10,000 and across the entire spectrum of claim values. This can be useful to find out whether you have a reasonable chance of success in getting your money back or defending the claim.
We have a range of bespoke services tailored to the client in our specialist practice areas of automotive law and construction law and should you go on to instruct us after your lawyer conference we will deduct the consultation fee from your bill.
Free Initial Small Claims Lawyer Legal Advice
About Philip Harmer
Philip has represented clients in hundreds of lower-value disputes, combining his formal training in ADR with tactical insight and a practical understanding of court procedure. He provides strategic advice designed to secure early resolution, with a particular focus on cost-efficiency and avoiding unnecessary escalation.
He regularly advises on
small claims strategy,
cost control, and pragmatic case resolution.
Contact Stormcatcher for First Free Advice