Under the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld), the legal costs to which an uplift fee is additional are the costs that would be payable if the agreement did not make payment conditional on success — not merely costs payable under the agreement upon success. A minimum percentage care and conduct fee that applies only where a no-win no-fee arrangement is in place constitutes an uplift fee requiring compliance with s 324. The inherent jurisdiction to order delivery of itemised bills by a former solicitor will not be exercised as of course where the client's liability is conditional on a successful outcome; the exercise of discretion requires evidence of a good reason for the order in the particular case.
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