Litigant in person costs, explained.

More people now run their own cases in the civil courts, and many of them win. When the court orders the other side to pay a litigant in person's costs, the question becomes what can actually be claimed. The answer is set out in CPR 46.5 and Practice Direction 46, and it is quite different from the rules for a party who has instructed solicitors.

We help litigants in person, and the solicitors acting against them, work out what is recoverable and prepare or challenge the claim. Our qualified Costs Lawyers are regulated by the Costs Lawyer Standards Board and can take instructions directly from members of the public.

A litigant in person can claim for time reasonably spent on the case. If they can prove that the time caused them financial loss, such as lost earnings, they can claim that loss. If they cannot prove a loss, they are allowed a fixed hourly rate for the time spent, which is set in Practice Direction 46.

They can also claim reasonable disbursements, such as court fees and the cost of an expert report, and payments reasonably made for legal services relating to the conduct of the proceedings. Their own costs for doing the work are capped at two-thirds of the sum that would have been allowed had they been legally represented.

A good claim is built on a clear record of time. We help litigants in person turn diaries, emails and notes into a schedule that shows what was done, when and for how long, and gather the evidence of any financial loss. For a short hearing that will be a statement of costs for summary assessment; for longer cases it will be a bill of costs for detailed assessment.

We also check whether any fixed costs regime applies, including fixed recoverable costs, because that can change what is payable whatever the time spent. Where the other side makes a low offer, we can advise on whether to accept it or make a Part 36 offer of your own.

For solicitors and paying parties, a litigant in person's claim needs careful handling. Claims are sometimes presented at solicitor rates, include time that was not reasonably spent, or claim loss without supporting evidence. We prepare proportionate points of dispute that identify these issues clearly and respectfully, because the court will expect the represented party to behave reasonably towards someone without a lawyer.

Where a litigant in person has costs ordered against them, we can also help you prepare and recover your client's own costs, and advise on enforcement options where payment is not made.

Running a case alone is demanding enough without having to master the costs rules as well. We explain each step in plain English, agree a fee before starting and keep the work proportionate to the sums involved. Our office is in London and we take instructions remotely from across England and Wales.

If you are not sure whether your claim is worth pursuing, a short initial conversation is usually enough to tell you what is likely to be recoverable and what the next step should be.