Why Might I Change Solicitors In An Issued Claim?

Ensuring you have the best legal representation throughout a claim is crucial. Not only must you work closely with your solicitor throughout proceedings, but you also want to ensure you’re receiving quality advice and value for money.

Litigation is time consuming and incurs significant cost in money and time. You want and need a return on that investment which we understand.

Fundamentally there needs to be trust and confidence between solicitor and client; trust in the advice and approach being received, and confidence in the advice positioning you to maximise return on your investment. Sometimes confidence can be eroded and over time it can become apparent that perhaps your solicitors are not as experienced or knowledgeable as you might have anticipated or understood at the outset. Perhaps there have been developments in the case that mean your previous solicitors are no longer able to continue.

As a firm of specialist litigation solicitors we’re routinely instructed in the place of other firms.

There are various reasons why you might change your solicitor after a claim has been issued:

• Understanding and using technology efficiently: we use technology deeply in our work ranging from automations to AI. This isnt about vanity, but rather efficiency, and quality. Taking this approach enabled us to charge approximately one quarter of the costs of a City firm in a recent dispute for the same work. We don’t have the same overheads and are incredibly lean.

• Concern at lack of commerciality: we treat every dispute as if its our own. We work hard. We try hard. And we don’t stop trying. At the outset there can be a misunderstanding that all solicitors are equal and work in the same way. We know that isnt right. Positioning for a deal or positive outcome; forcing people to do things they don’t want to do requires knowledge, commercial acumen, and experience. Knowing when an outcome is a good deal and when to do a deal, is key.

• Loss of confidence: If you feel your solicitor is no longer acting in your best interests or failing to handle your case correctly, you will want and need to instruct someone else.

• Lack of communication: A common reason clients change solicitors is poor communication, whether it’s delayed responses, unclear correspondence, or minimal updates.

• Lack of affordability: You might instruct a firm to handle the initial stages of your matter, but costs can quickly escalate once a claim is issued. This especially applies to City firms and you may need to switch to a more cost-effective option.

• Difference in approach: Your solicitor is there to advise you on the law, but sometimes their proposed strategy may not align with your expectations. Clients may change their legal representation to find a lawyer better suited to their objectives.

• Personality clashes: After proceedings are issued, the additional pressures of court hearings and deadlines can create tension between solicitors and clients. Sometimes clients simply switch because they no longer get along with their legal representative.

• Conflicts of interest: Sometimes, solicitors are duty-bound to withdraw from representing an individual due to a conflict of interest. For example, if they have a close relationship with a potential witness or a financial interest in the claim’s outcome. Sometimes a firm may realise they have done something wrong and might therefore need to cease acting.

• Firm closures or resignations: If the firm you instruct shuts down, or your lawyer leaves the company, you’ll need to find a suitable alternative, whether that’s within the same organisation or at a new firm.

As specialist litigation solicitors we act nationally and are experienced in taking over conduct of files where previous solicitors have been instructed but where you either dont want to continue instructing them, or they can no longer assist you for some other reason. Dont hesitate to contact a member of our team if we can assist you in this way.