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Last week a potential client came to see me - it was regarding a claim against his neighbour for damage amounting to about £3K. He wasn't an idiot - being a qualified engineer - and brought the claim on Money Claims Online. The Judge set it down for a directions hearing at which he told my client that he needed to redraft his pleadings as they were a bit short - in fact they did set out the claim quite well, but not to the DJ's satisfaction - The DJ told my client that he MUST get a lawyer to help him draft the pleadings - which was why he came to see me - but of course no legal costs for doing so....Small Claims are not fit for the purpose!! and if anyone tells me £10K is not of significant level to warrant legal help - then I say they are clearly earning too much money - I don't suppose it is significant to anyone on a Chancellor of the Exchequers salary, but a normal guy or small businessman who is owed that much it could be the difference between surviving or going under.