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'How would you explain to a client that fixed fees are a bad thing?'

Easy - "In view of the above, I estimate the value of your total claim to be in the region of £45,000 - £50,000 and that your legal costs to trial will be in the region of £30,000. You will be entitled to recover £18,750 of those costs from the person who injured you. Therefore, after settling your costs, you are likely to recover £33,750 - £38,750, which I note is in the region of the value of your claim for special damages alone.

Before the recent reforms, you would have received the full £45,000 - £50,000 and I note that the shortfall therefore is roughly equivalent to the value of the PSLA element of your claim. The new costs regime means therefore that after covering your expenses directly consequent on your injury, you actually recover nothing in damages. Fixed costs are a bad thing I'm afraid. I can only suggest that you write to your MP".