Will it cost me anything?

All of our solicitors act on a "No Win, No Fee" basis,  (Conditional Fee Agreement) meaning you will not have to pay any fees unless your claim is successful. We offer this service as a courtesy to our clients and to ensure that if we do take on your case you have a good chance of succeeding with your claim and recovering your losses.

Claims must be over £25,000* to be made on this basis however.

When your claim is successful you will be charged a fee limited to a percentage of your final compensation. All fees are agreed in advance, ensuring there will be no hidden charges. In the event that your case is not successful as you will not be charged a fee.

( *Please note you may be able to make a Court Claim, formerly known as a Small Claim, at your local County Court yourself if the value of your claim is under £10,000. Please click on the link for help and further details HERE )

The lawyer I was dealing with has disappeared or become insolvent. Can I still claim?

Yes. All lawyers should have professional indemnity insurance in place as a requirement of being able to practice.

We can easily find out a firm's insurance details from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, so you can still make a claim.

 When can the Legal Ombudsman help me?

The Legal Ombudsman is an independent, impartial scheme to help when you have an issue with a lawyer or a claims management company. They will investigate the complaint on your behalf and make a decision which is binding on the law firm.

If your complaint is service based, eg, the solicitor has not kept you well informed, or have been unprofessional or rude towards you, then the solicitor’s Legal Ombudsman may well be able to help you and make an award. For help and more details please contact the Legal Ombudsman directly

There are however limits to the financial compensation that the Legal Ombudsman can award and there are also strict time limits for making a complaint.

If your complaint is as a result of serious financial loss the Legal Ombudsman is probably not the best route to securing compensation. If you have experienced substantive financial loss as a result of solicitor negligence please get in touch for a free case assessment.

My lawyer wasn't charging me. Can I still claim?

Yes. Sometimes lawyers work for free on a "Pro Bono" basis. However they still have the same duty of care towards you as with any other lawyer.

Are there any time limits to my claim?

Yes. Your limitation period is normally six years from the date the negligence took place.

However, there are frequent exceptions to this rule, especially if you were not aware of any negligence by your solicitor until a later date.

If you're not sure if you are still eligible to make a claim, it is best to contact us for a free consultation so we can then advise you.