19 Sep Can I change my personal injury solicitor during a claim?
Yes. If you are not happy with the representation you are receiving from your Irish solicitor firm, you are completely free to change solicitor. The process for changing your personal injury solicitor, commonly known as ‘transfer of files between solicitors’ is relatively straightforward. You are entitled to change your solicitor at any time you wish and for any reason.
Reasons for changing a personal injury solicitor
Most people change their personal injury solicitor for one of a few common reasons:
- Never dealing with the same dedicated solicitor at the firm
- Your claim being handled by a paralegal, claims handler or someone else unsuitable
- Slow or lack of response from your solicitor or being generally unhappy with the level of service
What should I look for in a good personal injury solicitor?
- Is the solicitor firm registered with the Law Society of Ireland?
- Are you dealing with a solicitor specialising in personal injury law?
- Do they look to meet with you personally face-to-face?
- Have they marketed themselves as a no win no fee solicitor, which is prohibited by the Law Society of Ireland?
- Have they discussed all of your options with you?
- Have they been upfront in discussing fees for personal injury solicitors, including what fees may be due to your previous solicitor?
How to change solicitor during a compensation claim
The process of changing solicitor forms is guided by the Law Society of Ireland in their document, “A Guide to Good Professional Conduct for Solicitors”.
- First, you will sign an authority stating that your new firm will be acting as your new solicitor firm and are authorised to take over the files from your previous firm
- When received, your previous firm should confirm the conditions of the file transfer and outline any outstanding costs
- You may then review the bill of costs outlined by your previous firm. You may dispute or accept these costs
- When the conditions and costs are agreed upon, your previous firm should supply your file to your new solicitor firm
Do I need to pay my old solicitor firm now?
It is common when transferring a file that any outstanding costs to your previous firm will be noted as a cost against any settlement you receive. If this is the case, the amount will be deducted when you receive your final settlement amount. This is dependent on the terms of service you agreed with your previous firm.
Contact Ferrys Solicitors LLP’ Personal Injury and Accident Solicitors
Our personal injury solicitors take all of the above in mind to ensure we provide the best possible service to all of our clients.
If you feel you need to change your personal injury solicitor, it is best to do so as soon as possible, before your case progresses further and you incur further fees with your current firm. This will also ensure that your case has the best possible chance of a successful outcome.
Contact Ferrys Personal Injury Solicitors in Dublin today and speak to one of our Irish solicitors in one of our Dublin offices.
