Suing A Solicitor

Our expert team of professional negligence solicitors has many years of experience in advising businesses and individuals on professional negligence claims. We can help you if your solicitor has caused you loss.

We appreciate that clients may feel a little overwhelmed by the idea of suing a solicitor, and are likely to have many questions about their rights and the processes. When you work with Levi Solicitors, you will receive bespoke support every step of the way.

Solicitor Duty Of Care

All professionals owe their clients a duty of care. This means that they must perform their jobs to a reasonable standard and with reasonable care. However, if your solicitor’s advice falls below the standard that you should reasonably expect, you may be able to make a professional negligence claim against your lawyer.

When you first make contact with us, we will start by establishing whether your solicitor has breached their duty of care. Where we believe you have a case, we can discuss funding, and the next steps.

If you do not have the basis of a professional negligence case, we may still be able to guide you to make a complaint against your solicitor, depending on the circumstances.

Solicitors Regulation Authority

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is an organisation that exists to regulate solicitors in England and Wales. The role of the SRA is to ensure that solicitors perform their role to acceptable standards, including, adhering to the Solicitors Code of Conduct, and acting with honesty and integrity.

The Code of Conduct for Solicitors covers a wide range of different areas, a few of which include:

• Maintaining trust and acting fairly: for instance, a solicitor should not take advantage of their clients, this would be considered an abuse of power/position
• Service and competence: for example, a solicitor should ensure that their service is both competent, and delivered within acceptable time frames

If you would like to report a solicitor to the SRA, we can guide you through the process, as well as assisting you to build a professional negligence claim against a solicitor.

Solicitor Professional Negligence

Businesses and individuals frequently use solicitors to advise and act on a range of matters. We expect that advice and their actions to be accurate, and in most cases they are. However, sometimes things go wrong, meaning that you lose out financially as a result. Examples of solicitor negligence include:

• Failing to advise on issues affecting property transactions
• Missing deadlines including limitation dates and court deadlines
• Mistakes in drafting legal documents including wills and property documents
• Not advising on the outcome of surveys, searches or valuations in property transactions
• Solicitor’s dishonesty
• Under-settling claims (including personal injury claims)
• Giving legal advice which causes you a loss
• Causing a claim to be struck out by the courts
• Not following instructions properly
• Failing to perform to professional standards

If you feel you have a claim against a solicitor, it is important to seek specialist legal advice from an experienced professional negligence solicitor. There are strict time limits for professional negligence claims including those against solicitors. Generally, this is six years. However, there are some exceptions, so it is worth getting in touch to discuss your claim. We always recommend that you contact us as soon as you become aware of any negligence.

Complaints About Solicitors

If you have a complaint about a solicitor’s service, you may be able to make a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman. As part of our advice, we will consider whether you may have a valid Legal Ombudsman complaint.

Even if you have had a negative decision from the Legal Ombudsman, we may still be able to help you.

If you feel you have a claim against a solicitor, it is important to seek specialist legal advice from an experienced professional negligence solicitor. There are strict time limits for professional negligence claims including those against solicitors. Generally, this is six years. However, there are some exceptions, so it is worth getting in touch to discuss your claim. We always recommend that you contact us as soon as you become aware of any negligence.

Licensed Conveyancer Professional Negligence

In other cases, you may have instructed a licensed conveyancer (as opposed to a solicitor) to help you buy or sell your home. We have experience in bringing claims against conveyancers as well as solicitors. Therefore, if you think that your conveyancer may have been negligent, we can help.

Professional Negligence in Personal Injury Claims

When you have suffered an injury or feel that the medical treatment you received was substandard (known as medical negligence), it is understandable that you will want to take legal advice. As with other solicitors, we expect those dealing with personal injury or medical negligence to act in our best interests and to give good advice. Examples of negligence in a personal injury claim include:

• Missing deadlines, including limitation dates and court deadlines
• Failing to obtain all the correct medical evidence
• Under-settling claims. Where the compensation you received fell short of what you had expected or had been led to believe you would receive, your lawyer may have under-settled your claim
• Solicitor unexpectedly deducting money from your compensation
• Failing to appreciate the severity of your injuries
• Instructing the incorrect expert, leading to you receiving less compensation
• Giving you unreasonable advice.