The Clever Notice is the most distinctive part of how we work — and the step that most people have never encountered before. Here is what it is, why it works, and what it means for your claim.
The Clever Notice is a formally documented settlement offer, prepared by a lawyer and issued on your behalf, setting out what happened, what it cost you, and what a fair resolution looks like. It is priced as a fixed fee, quoted upfront before you decide whether to proceed.
Its purpose is to move the cost of delay onto the other side. Once a reasonable offer sits formally on the record, refusing it carries consequences if the claim later resolves for the same amount or more. That changes the economics of holding out, without anybody being forced to settle.
It is one of two stages, and you choose whether to go past the first.
| Clever Notice | Clever Claim | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A formal settlement offer issued on your behalf, with the evidence to support it | Full representation to pursue the claim |
| How it is priced | A fixed fee, quoted before you commit to anything | No win, no fee, fixed for each stage of work, capped at 20% of what you recover |
| When it applies | Once the evidence supports putting a figure to the other side | Where the Notice does not resolve the matter |
| What you decide | Whether to proceed, after seeing the quoted fee | Whether to take the next step at all |
Nothing moves from one stage to the next without your instructions.
What is a Clever Notice?
The Clever Notice is a formally documented settlement offer issued on your behalf. It sets out your claim clearly and on the record: what happened, what it cost you, and what a fair resolution looks like.
It is not a demand letter, and it is not bluster. It is a structured, lawyer-prepared document that puts your position formally to the other side — with the evidence to support it. The other side knows exactly where they stand, and so do you.
Why does it work?
Once a Notice is issued, the cost of delay shifts to the other side. If they refuse a reasonable offer and the claim later settles or succeeds for the same amount or more, that refusal is on the record — and the consequences of having ignored a reasonable offer follow them through any further proceedings.
This creates real pressure to resolve early. Not because the other side is forced to settle, but because the economics of delay work against them. Every month of delay after a formal offer means more exposure, not less.
Most claims that reach the Clever Notice stage resolve here. Without court. Without years of litigation. Without the uncertainty of a trial.
Why don't traditional firms do this?
Most law firms bill by the hour. A claim that settles in three months generates far less revenue than one that runs for three years. There is no structural incentive to resolve early — the longer things run, the more the firm earns.
That is not a criticism of individual lawyers. It is a consequence of the billing model. The meter rewards delay.
Clever's fixed-fee model flips this. We charge a fixed fee for the Notice stage — quoted upfront before you decide to proceed. If the claim resolves here, that is all you pay. Our interest is the same as yours: resolve fast, recover what you are owed, move on.
What does it cost?
The Clever Notice is a fixed fee — quoted upfront, before you commit to anything. You know the number before you decide whether to proceed. There are no hourly surprises, no escalating costs, and no ambiguity about what you are paying for.
If the claim resolves at the Notice stage, that fixed fee is all you pay. No further professional fees unless you choose to take the next step.
What happens next?
If the Notice resolves the claim — which it usually does — the matter is settled and you move on. If the other side doesn't engage, or makes an offer that isn't fair, full representation is available through Clever Claim — no win no fee, fixed for each stage of work, capped at 20% of what you recover.
You decide at every stage whether to proceed. Nothing happens without your say-so.
To find out whether your claim is ready for a Clever Notice, the first step is a free assessment — start one here. There is no obligation, and no guaranteed outcomes.
Common questions
What is a Clever Notice?
A formally documented settlement offer prepared by a lawyer and issued on your behalf. It sets out what happened, what it cost you, and what a fair resolution looks like, supported by the evidence gathered during the assessment. It is not a demand letter and not a threat. It is a structured document that puts your position to the other side on the record, so they can see exactly what the claim is and what it is based on.
What does a Clever Notice cost?
A fixed fee, quoted upfront before you commit to anything. You see the number before deciding whether to proceed, so there are no hourly charges and no escalating costs at that stage. If the claim resolves at the Notice stage, that fixed fee is all you pay in professional fees. Taking the matter further is a separate decision, and full representation is offered on a no win, no fee basis, fixed for each stage of work and capped at 20% of what you recover.
What happens if the other side ignores it?
You move to a decision about whether to continue. If the other side does not engage, or responds with an offer that is not fair, full representation is available through the next stage. Nothing is automatic. You decide whether to take that step, and you are told what it involves before you do.
Do you have to run a full claim afterwards?
No. The Notice stage is complete in itself, and you are under no obligation to continue past it. Some matters resolve at that point and some do not, and if yours does not you can decide then whether pursuing it further is worth it to you. You control the decision at every stage.