Solicitor Negligence Compensation Claims

Making a claim for solicitor negligence

When you put your faith in a solicitor to represent your legal interests, you expect them to use their considerable professional expertise to help you reach a positive outcome. But unfortunately, there are instances where a solicitor’s services fall short of what you expected – and sometimes this poor standard of service crosses the line into professional negligence.

Examples of solicitor negligence

Missed a cut-off date for bringing a claim;
Failed to comply with Court directions;
Did not take action on your case in a timely manner
Did not draft a contract correctly;
Did not draft a Will correctly

If you think your solicitor was negligent in how they managed your case, we can help you pursue a legal professional negligence claim which could see you receive compensation for your losses.

Professional negligence claims against solicitors are on the rise. The internet has made a generation of people more aware of their legal rights, and their ability to exercise them. It’s likely that many people weren’t even aware you could sue a solicitor – but times have changed, and those who have been let down by their solicitor’s negligence now know they can take action.

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Our expert team will call you...

We know that pursuing a negligence claim can be a stressful process – especially if you’re already handling the fallout of a legal process gone wrong. Woman offering pen to sign paperwork

That’s why our expert team of solicitors are on hand to support you throughout every step of the process. We’ll act fast to establish the nature of the initial agreement reached between you and the professional, and whether there was a failure to carry out the tasks with the appropriate level of skill or care.

Claire Critchley

Our Financial, Property and Professional Claims team is headed by senior solicitor Claire Critchley who has over 10 years’ experience dealing with complex legal claims against a variety of professionals including surveyors, architects, estate agents and solicitors, in addition to dealing with financial disputes involving mis-sold mortgages and interest rate swaps. Claire also has significant past experience in representing large companies and financial institutions in a range of different legal service areas including breach of contract, debt recovery and insolvency litigation. Claire is currently leading the pursuit of a group claim in relation to a £2 million property investment case known as Enterprise House in Leicester.

Patricia Murphy

Patricia has 6 years of file-handling experience in litigation and currently has responsibility for a mixed caseload including property related legal negligence claims, claims against architects and contract disputes. Highlights for Patricia have included conduct of high-value multi-track cases, with the value of damages awarded often exceeding £100,000. Patricia also has significant experience handling a range of personal injury disputes.

Chris Tetzlaff

Chris has over 6 years of experience as a litigation file-handler and currently has responsibility for a mix of disputes involving legal negligence, contract disputes and housing disrepair. Chris also has significant experience in and knowledge of personal injury litigation. Past highlights have included working extensively with leading Counsel on a number of catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims worth between £250,000 - £2,000,000 involving forensic accident reconstruction and complex, life-changing injuries including brain injury, amputation and severe psychological trauma.

Catherine Donnelly

In early 2015, Catherine began working in the firm as a paralegal whilst completing the Legal Practice Course. In January 2017, she became a Trainee Solicitor and is currently completing her third seat. She has also completed seats in Group Litigation and Residential Conveyancing. Outside of work, Catherine is an enthusiastic baker who loves to paint. She is a regular contributor to fundraising events for Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support charities. She is also a passionate member of the National Trust, and loves to spend her time visiting various locations throughout the UK.

Aileen Wood

Aileen joined the firm in 2012 as a Legal Assistant in the Group Litigation Department. She joined the Professional Negligence team a couple of years later where she is now a Paralegal having completed a 12-month internal development programme. Aileen enjoys taking part in charity events such as her most recent event, Hell Runner. She also loves spending time with her family which includes her fiancé and two stepchildren. Most of all, she loves everything relating to Christmas.

Kathy McQuillan

Kathy has been a Legal Assistant in the Professional Negligence team since joining the firm in December 2016. She also completed her Law Degree in 2016 and is currently undertaking the Legal Practice Course. Outside of work, Kathy enjoys spending time with her family.

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This is not about a claims culture. We just want to defend the rights of the people who are suffering because of this.

Claire Critchley

Head of Professional Negligence

What our customers say

“I found the staff to be friendly, helpful, courteous and they kept me well informed on a regular basis”

Mrs. Vora,
Loughborough

“They acted in a sympathetic and professional manner and resolved my case very efficiently”

Mr Dowse
Leeds

For a confidential chat, call one of our experts today 0151 550 5228

10 simple steps to claim

Step
1

Understanding what went wrong

Step
2

Reviewing relevant documents

Step
3

Obtaining an initial response to your grievance

Step
4

Sending the Letter of Claim

Step
5

The professional’s detailed response

Step
86

Issuing court proceedingsTaking a detailed statement

Step
7

Obtaining experts’ reports

Step
68

Taking a detailed statementIssuing court proceedings

Step
9

Attending your court trial

Step
10

Awarding your compensation claim

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Your questions... answered

How long does a claim take? What is solicitor professional negligence? What's the difference between solicitors and barristers? What constitutes negligence by a solicitor? What are the consequences of negligence by solicitors? How do you go about claiming against a solicitor? How can Your Legal Friend help?

How long does a claim take?

Because the circumstances surrounding every claim and their effects are different, it’s very difficult to give a definitive answer on how long it takes to settle a claim. Often it depends on how quickly our clients provide us with essential information, how quickly we can get your file of papers from the professional and any expert reports required, and whether the insurance companies are willing to provide realistic offers to settle the claims.
Whilst we aim to settle your claim as quickly as possible, we also want to ensure we secure the maximum compensation for you. This often means we have to do some hard negotiation with the defendants – which takes extra time. Our aim is to balance progressing the claim as fast as possible with getting you the maximum settlement.

We realise that you’ll be keen to know about the progress of your claim so we will send you regular emails and texts to keep you up to date, and also to remind you if there is any information we’re waiting for from you.

Read less

What is solicitor professional negligence?

To understand whether your solicitor was negligent, you need to be aware of what constitutes professional negligence. By law, professional negligence is when a professional fails to perform their responsibilities to the standard expected of them. This failure to meet the duty of care they owe to their client must also cause financial loss for it to be classed as negligent.

If you’re planning to pursue a professional negligence claim against your solicitor, you’ll need to prove three things:

That you were owed a duty of care by the professional
That the professional breached that duty of care
That this breach resulted in financial losses to you

At Your Legal Friend, we understand just how overwhelming it can be to consider a professional negligence claim against your solicitor who is likely to have years of experience in dealing with the intricacies of the law. Our expert team of highly experienced professional negligence solicitors will make the process as stress-free as possible and will fight to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Read less

What's the difference between solicitors and barristers?

Some clients are represented by both a solicitor and a barrister, but when it comes to negligence, they’re unsure who was at fault. Here are the differences between the two professions:

Barristers are in-court advocates – the professionals that appear in court wearing a wig and gown, arguing a case before the judge or jury. Barristers don’t tend to communicate with their client as much as solicitors do.
Solicitors prepare court cases for trial and liaise closely with the client outside of the courtroom. They also instruct the barrister, providing them with the information necessary for them to make their case in front of the judge.

There are exceptions in some cases, but these are the broad definitions of both roles. Both solicitors and barristers can have professional negligence claims brought against them.

What constitutes negligence by a solicitor?

Every case will be different, just as every client’s circumstances are unique. However, there are a number of common examples of negligence:

Your solicitor missed the limitation date for your case
Your solicitor incorrectly drafted a lease, a will or another important legal document
Your solicitor sued the wrong party
Your solicitor failed to serve a notice by a certain deadline
Your solicitor failed to offer the correct advice about planning permission or building regulations
Your solicitor under-settled your personal injury claim

Of course, this is not the exhaustive list, and there are many other examples of negligence. To discover whether you have a valid claim, contact us to discuss your circumstances and next steps.

What are the consequences of negligence by solicitors?

Solicitors acting negligently can cause a raft of problems for their client, financially and personally. A solicitor incorrectly drafting a will could leave a deceased client’s children without their rightful inheritance. A solicitor wrongfully under-settling a personal injury claim could leave their client out of pocket. A solicitor who fails to offer the correct advice about planning permission could even leave their client homeless.

How do you go about claiming against a solicitor?

If you’ve suffered a financial loss as a result of negligence on the part of your solicitor, you may be able to make a compensation claim that will see your losses recovered. Our expert professional negligence solicitors will help you determine whether the errors made by your solicitor were negligent, as well as considering how best to pursue your claim and recover the compensation you deserve.

So that we can represent you effectively, we’ll need to know the following things:

The name of your solicitor
When you instructed them
What you instructed them to do
How you think they were negligent
The estimated value of the loss you suffered as a result of their negligent actions

Once you’ve supplied us with these details, we can start investigating the case and advising you on your next steps. Most solicitors have professional indemnity insurance which will ensure you recover the full amount from them when you win your case.

If we discover that your solicitor’s mistakes didn’t amount to negligence in the eyes of the law, we’d advise taking the matter to the Legal Ombudsman, the body in charge of complaints against solicitors. This body does have the power to award compensation where inadequate services were provided, and this is a viable option for clients whose claims wouldn’t be classed as negligence in court.

Time limitations

Professional negligence claims must be brought within six years of the day on which the negligent act occurred. If you haven’t brought a claim by this deadline, you will be unable to do so.
Sometimes, claimants aren’t actually aware of the negligence when it first occurs, and so the first rule would be unfair to these people. In this instance, the claimant would have three years from the date of discovering the negligence to bring their claim to court.

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How can Your Legal Friend help?

We know that the prospect of taking a solicitor to court can be daunting. But our experienced team of professional negligence solicitors has the skills and experience to ensure your solicitor is held to account. We’ll act quickly and provide you with sympathetic, practical, jargon-free advice to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Throughout your claim, Your Legal Friend will help you every step of the way

Specialist team of professional negligence solicitors
A wealth of knowledge and expertise
Advice, support and guidance throughout your claim
Over 30 years’ experience in personal injury compensation

Because the circumstances surrounding every claim and their effects are different, it’s very difficult to give a definitive answer on how long it takes to settle a claim. Often it depends on how quickly our clients provide us with essential information, how quickly we can get your file of papers from the professional and any expert reports required, and whether the insurance companies are willing to provide realistic offers to settle the claims.
Whilst we aim to settle your claim as quickly as possible, we also want to ensure we secure the maximum compensation for you. This often means we have to do some hard negotiation with the defendants – which takes extra time. Our aim is to balance progressing the claim as fast as possible with getting you the maximum settlement.

We realise that you’ll be keen to know about the progress of your claim so we will send you regular emails and texts to keep you up to date, and also to remind you if there is any information we’re waiting for from you.

Read less

To understand whether your solicitor was negligent, you need to be aware of what constitutes professional negligence. By law, professional negligence is when a professional fails to perform their responsibilities to the standard expected of them. This failure to meet the duty of care they owe to their client must also cause financial loss for it to be classed as negligent.

If you’re planning to pursue a professional negligence claim against your solicitor, you’ll need to prove three things:

That you were owed a duty of care by the professional
That the professional breached that duty of care
That this breach resulted in financial losses to you

At Your Legal Friend, we understand just how overwhelming it can be to consider a professional negligence claim against your solicitor who is likely to have years of experience in dealing with the intricacies of the law. Our expert team of highly experienced professional negligence solicitors will make the process as stress-free as possible and will fight to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Read less

Some clients are represented by both a solicitor and a barrister, but when it comes to negligence, they’re unsure who was at fault. Here are the differences between the two professions:

Barristers are in-court advocates – the professionals that appear in court wearing a wig and gown, arguing a case before the judge or jury. Barristers don’t tend to communicate with their client as much as solicitors do.
Solicitors prepare court cases for trial and liaise closely with the client outside of the courtroom. They also instruct the barrister, providing them with the information necessary for them to make their case in front of the judge.

There are exceptions in some cases, but these are the broad definitions of both roles. Both solicitors and barristers can have professional negligence claims brought against them.

Every case will be different, just as every client’s circumstances are unique. However, there are a number of common examples of negligence:

Your solicitor missed the limitation date for your case
Your solicitor incorrectly drafted a lease, a will or another important legal document
Your solicitor sued the wrong party
Your solicitor failed to serve a notice by a certain deadline
Your solicitor failed to offer the correct advice about planning permission or building regulations
Your solicitor under-settled your personal injury claim

Of course, this is not the exhaustive list, and there are many other examples of negligence. To discover whether you have a valid claim, contact us to discuss your circumstances and next steps.

Solicitors acting negligently can cause a raft of problems for their client, financially and personally. A solicitor incorrectly drafting a will could leave a deceased client’s children without their rightful inheritance. A solicitor wrongfully under-settling a personal injury claim could leave their client out of pocket. A solicitor who fails to offer the correct advice about planning permission could even leave their client homeless.

If you’ve suffered a financial loss as a result of negligence on the part of your solicitor, you may be able to make a compensation claim that will see your losses recovered. Our expert professional negligence solicitors will help you determine whether the errors made by your solicitor were negligent, as well as considering how best to pursue your claim and recover the compensation you deserve.

So that we can represent you effectively, we’ll need to know the following things:

The name of your solicitor
When you instructed them
What you instructed them to do
How you think they were negligent
The estimated value of the loss you suffered as a result of their negligent actions

Once you’ve supplied us with these details, we can start investigating the case and advising you on your next steps. Most solicitors have professional indemnity insurance which will ensure you recover the full amount from them when you win your case.

If we discover that your solicitor’s mistakes didn’t amount to negligence in the eyes of the law, we’d advise taking the matter to the Legal Ombudsman, the body in charge of complaints against solicitors. This body does have the power to award compensation where inadequate services were provided, and this is a viable option for clients whose claims wouldn’t be classed as negligence in court.

Time limitations

Professional negligence claims must be brought within six years of the day on which the negligent act occurred. If you haven’t brought a claim by this deadline, you will be unable to do so.
Sometimes, claimants aren’t actually aware of the negligence when it first occurs, and so the first rule would be unfair to these people. In this instance, the claimant would have three years from the date of discovering the negligence to bring their claim to court.

Read less

We know that the prospect of taking a solicitor to court can be daunting. But our experienced team of professional negligence solicitors has the skills and experience to ensure your solicitor is held to account. We’ll act quickly and provide you with sympathetic, practical, jargon-free advice to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Throughout your claim, Your Legal Friend will help you every step of the way