| Professional negligence is a term that most people | | | | success they are achieving in those cases. Of course, |
| know yet few people can explain. In broad terms, | | | | there is more to choosing a solicitor than the sheer |
| claims regarding professional negligence are generally | | | | amount of cases they receive – a large law |
| made when an individual feels they have been let | | | | firm may simply get more cases due to being just that. |
| down by a professional, and, as a result of this, the | | | | It is important the solicitor you choose, regardless of |
| individual has suffered a loss. This loss can be financial | | | | the size of the firm, has the necessary levels of |
| or otherwise but it must have occurred as a | | | | experience and resources to provide advice, |
| consequence of poor service provided by a | | | | assistance and representation in order for the client to |
| professional for the individual to have a claim. The type | | | | be successful in their potential claim against a |
| of professional that can be claimed against commonly | | | | professional. |
| includes solicitors, barristers, accountants, surveyors, | | | | In more detail, there are a number of elements that |
| financial advisors, project managers, planning | | | | need to be examined before an individual can be fully |
| consultants and architects, yet a professional | | | | confident that they have hired the right solicitor for the |
| negligence claim can be brought against negligent | | | | job. A quick and efficient review of any potential claim |
| individuals in almost any profession. | | | | is a good starting point, followed by clear and |
| However, there is a reason why professional | | | | straightforward advice on the merits of any potential |
| negligence cases do not appear to make the headlines | | | | claim. This should include a full explanation of the |
| as often as other areas of the law. Professional | | | | practice and procedures involved in pursuing a claim, |
| negligence is a specialist topic and not an area of | | | | and transparency in regards to the costs involved in |
| general practice for solicitors, and because of this | | | | pursuing a claim. If the solicitor offers the availability of |
| professional negligence cases appear with less | | | | alternative means of funding to include conditional fee |
| regularity than, for example, widely publicised areas of | | | | agreements, then this can, depending on your |
| the law such as accident claims. The specialist nature | | | | circumstances, be extremely helpful too. A |
| of professional negligence has the effect of reducing | | | | “no-win no-fee” arrangement enables you |
| the number of solicitors who are sufficiently aware of | | | | to pursue a claim without having to pay much (or |
| the issues involved to enable them to undertake | | | | sometimes anything) unless you are successful. A |
| professional negligence work effectively. This can | | | | solicitor with good knowledge of professional |
| make the building of a professional negligence claim | | | | negligence claims will be confident in their ability to |
| quite difficult for an individual if they hire a solicitor that | | | | assess accurately the merits of a claim, and will |
| does not absolutely understand all the potential | | | | therefore often be prepared to take the chance that |
| aspects of a professional negligence claim. | | | | they may not be paid if the claim is unsuccessful. |
| Expertise in professional negligence can be reflected in | | | | Ultimately, it helps to remember that if a solicitor |
| various ways by a solicitor. One of the most obvious | | | | decides that an individual’s potential claim does |
| things to look for when choosing a solicitor for a | | | | not merit pursuing then the individual can take their |
| professional negligence case is to gauge the amount | | | | potential claim elsewhere. |
| of professional negligence cases they are instructing | | | | This article is free to republish provided the authors |
| upon and, perhaps a little more importantly, the | | | | resource box below remains intact. |