Proportionality

A further definition from The (Alternative) Legal Costs Dictionary:

Proportionality advs.  a theoretical legal concept whereby the court will not allow legal costs to be recovered that are disproportionate to the amount at stake.  An example of proportionality being applied by the courts has yet to be reported.

Fee earner

A further definition from The (Alternative) Legal Costs Dictionary:

Fee earner n.  partner, solicitor, legal executive, paralegal, litigation executive, legal secretary, post boy, 12 year old on Take Your Daughter to Work Day visit, office cat, visiting office photocopier repair man, office photocopier.

Deputy Costs Judge

A further definition from The (Alternative) Legal Costs Dictionary:

Deputy Costs Judge n. a lawyer with a real job who has volunteered to spend time in the company of costs draftsmen.  No, really.  

Detailed Assessment

A further definition from The (Alternative) Legal Costs Dictionary:

Detailed assessment n.  a process whereby a receiving party seeks to recover the cost of work that was not actually performed and the cost of work that was performed but for which there was no need.  In turn, the paying party seeks to argue that the case should have been conducted in half the time, at quarter the cost and by the office cat, if at all.  The process is usually overseen by a court official with no interest in the outcome and no understanding of the rules.  An entirely arbitrary process elevated to a cornerstone of the English legal system.

After-the-event (ATE) insurance policy

A further definition from The (Alternative) Legal Costs Dictionary:

After-the-event (ATE) insurance policy n. a policy of insurance whereby the insurer seeks a large premium in respect of something which the insurer has assessed as carrying little or no risk.  In the unlikely event that a judge prefers the evidence of the defendant to that of the claimant, the insurer will void the policy on the basis of material non-disclosure and refuse to pay out.

Bill of Costs

To outsiders the language of the legal costs world can seem strange and archaic.  Why are "indemnity costs" and the "indemnity principle" totally different and totally unrelated?  Why did "taxing masters" have nothing to do with tax?

To help cast some light on this obscure area of law the Legal Costs Blog is pleased introduce The (Alternative) Legal Costs Dictionary.  Over coming weeks we hope that these clear and concise definitions will provide invaluable assistance.  

Bill of Costs (claimant's) n.  a work of fiction (usu. pure fantasy).

Bill of Costs (defendant's) n.  a true and accurate account of the work reasonably and proportionality done to secure access to justice for a defendant who has had a claim entirely lacking in merit brought against him.