FrequeNtly Asked Questions
FAQ
Lawyers FAQ
Nothing, panel membership is free.
- You complete our online application form;
- We establish whether we require further capacity within your field of specialisation;
- We check that your application complies with our admission criteria (available on our panel applications page);
- We arrange a meeting with you;
- We conduct thorough reference and Legal Practice Council checks; and
- We welcome you aboard.
We don’t require exclusivity, but many panel members work exclusively with us.
No, we are a legal consultancy company. We do, however, assist clients requiring secondments of legal staff on a contract basis.
With Caveat, you benefit from maintaining your independence and autonomy whilst having the support of a large panel of like-minded professionals, comprehensive PI insurance, marketing and administrative support and access to our vast client base.
No. We are engaged in ongoing and active marketing for our individual panel members, but we cannot guarantee certain levels of workflow.
Panel members work from any location as long as they are online, easy to contact and available to meet with clients as and when required, unless they work at a client’s premises by agreement.
Panel members determine the fees that they charge, taking into account their level of experience and field of specialisation. Panel members’ fees usually accord with counsel’s fees at similar levels of experience, which work out to being between one third and one half of large firm fees for similarly qualified professionals.
Yes, Caveat makes no deductions from fees earned by panel members other than a nominal once-off annual contribution to PI insurance, which is deducted from fees earned.
Caveat charges a service fee calculated at 25% of the panel member’s total fee. The service fee is added to the panel member’s fee when the client is invoiced.
Unlike traditional law firms, Caveat panel members are not required to chase fee targets. Caveat does not prescribe fee targets, and our panel members are not incentivised to charge high fees. At Caveat, we consider such practices to have the effect of placing the panel member in a position where their interests are in direct conflict with their clients’ interests, which is unacceptable to us and inconsistent with our values.
Yes. In such a case, you will remain the lead panel member on that client’s work where the work is within your field of specialisation.Â
- Caveat provides its panel members with comprehensive PI cover, for which a nominal annual contribution is deducted from fees earned.
- Panel members are able to request top-up insurance on an ad hoc basis should a brief require additional cover. This is agreed with the insurer, and the client is charged for the increased premium by agreement.
Yes, we host regular team functions for panel members to meet each other and socialise.
Clients FAQ
- You send us a mail or complete a contact form describing the type of legal assistance that you need and your time frames;
- We analyse your requirements to understand the field of specialisation that it falls within and the level of experience required of the panel members assigned to it;
- We recommend panel members that would be appropriate for the work; and
- You engage your chosen panel member/s by signing our standard terms.
Each panel member has an hourly rate which is determined taking into account his/her level of experience. This rate is usually between one third and one half of his/her equivalent large firm fee. Caveat charges a 25% service fee over and above the panel member’s fee.
We have stripped away all unnecessary overheads, so don’t need to pass the costs of large buildings and teams of staff on to our clients.
Unlike traditional law firms, Caveat panel members are not required to chase fee targets. Caveat does not prescribe fee targets, and our panel members are not incentivised to charge high fees. At Caveat, we consider such practices to have the effect of placing the panel member in a conflicted position vis a vis the client, which is unacceptable to us and inconsistent with our values.
Yes, you may request a quote  for the work involved.
Yes, we are very flexible as to fee arrangements.
Yes, we are very flexible as to working and billing arrangements.
- Ad hoc brief work: We issue invoices at the end of each month for work done during that month. Payment is due within 30 days.
- Secondments: We issue invoices monthly in advance. Payment is due within 30 days.
- Legal GAP Analysis: We issue an invoice on receipt of instruction. Payment is due within 7 days, and work commences on receipt of payment.
- We have a very strict vetting process which involves careful reference checks and verification of credentials with the Legal Practice Council.
- Members are also required to remain up to date within their field of specialisation and only to work within such field.
Panel members can work remotely from their own office or at your offices, depending on your requirements.
Yes, each panel member is covered by our very comprehensive professional indemnity insurance.