Simply put, civil litigation relates to non-criminal law legal disputes between parties, with the outcome most often being financial compensation from one party to the other.

Civil matters are heard within an arbitration environment before a qualified Arbitrator, or within a formal court before Judges or Magistrates.  Courts range from the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Appeals, the High Court, Regional Court, Magistrate’s Court and Labour Court, to name a few.  The type of proceedings and the court will depend on the value and the nature of the legal dispute.

The role of the litigation attorney is to provide legal services and legal representation to parties who are involved in civil litigation disputes and at various stages of the dispute.

Most civil litigation attorneys’ billing is based on time (e.g. per hour).  Billing rates and fees differ from one attorney to the next, depending on various factors, including his/her legal expertise gained over the years. That said, each lawyer is unique and neither the cheapest nor the most expensive attorney is necessarily the best lawyer for you.

As a starting point, a consultation with an attorney will help determine whether you need legal representation and identify your type of case. This will give you an opportunity to discuss your dispute and obtain guidance and advice on where to start and what to do next. It’s also a good idea to use a legal professional to represent you, as opposed to doing this yourself. This way, you will have the qualified opinion and the correct process followed when dealing with your case.

The costs associated with the services of a civil litigation attorney depends on the nature of the case, the specialist services that the client needs, the complexity and urgency of the case, the number of attorneys and their level of expertise and experience.

The length, urgency and complexity of a case are important factors to consider when looking at the overall cost of a legal dispute, however when looking at the fees of an attorney, the value for legal services rendered must be considered. The unique skill set of the attorney, experience, reliability and reputation are key to deciding on the right litigation attorney for your specific case. Building and maintaining a good relationship with the client is key to our success.

The Woodhead Bigby team of reliable, trustworthy attorneys have extensive knowledge and expertise in multiple areas of civil law, and commit to putting their clients’ best interests first. Lawsuits and legal issues are usually daunting and stressful for everyone, but this team of over 16 fully qualified attorneys make it a priority to provide all clients with complete peace of mind as they process the matter from start to finish.