Lawyers are to begin experiments with the ‘no cure, no pay’ system next year, the Dutch Bar Association said on Thursday.

‘No cure, no pay’ is the system whereby clients only pay their lawyer when their case is won.

At the moment, this system is banned under Dutch law, but a partial lifting of the ban, covering five years from January 2014, will allow the Bar Association to see if it encourages more people to take their case to court.

‘No cure, no pay’ will be limited to injury compensation claims during the five year experiment.

Rules

The coalition parties Liberal VVD and Labour said in April they wanted to test the ‘no cure, no pay’ system. VVD MP Ard van der Steur told the NRC then that the system could widen access to the law.

Following Thursday’s announcement, Van der Steur told the paper there must be rules preventing lawyers from settling a case out of court where a court appearance could achieve more.