Here’s the full picture behind this week’s explainer, including the knowledge a solicitor brings and what’s expected from you as a client along the way.
The Short Answer
Instructing a solicitor means having someone on your side who knows the law, knows the steps involved, and can advise you on what a reasonable sum of compensation looks like, knowledge you may not have if handling a claim alone. A solicitor takes on as much of the claim process as possible, dealing with the practical steps so the pressure isn’t on you. In return, what’s needed from you is engagement: listening to the advice given and providing instructions, which forms the basis on which a solicitor acts on your behalf.
What Does a Solicitor Bring That You Might Not Have Alone?
Pursuing a claim without legal support means navigating unfamiliar territory, often without the background needed to judge what’s reasonable.
“I think absolutely the first key point to make is, if you’ve instructed a solicitor, you have someone on your side that knows the law, that knows the steps to be taken, and importantly, can advise you on what is a reasonable sum of compensation.”
You can read more about Personal Injury Claims on our Personal Injury Claims service page.
Guidance Through Every Step
Without that experience, it can be difficult to know what to do next, what your claim might be worth, or how to move things along efficiently. A solicitor is there to advise on all of that.
“If you were in a position whereby you were doing this on your own, you may not have the requisite skills to do that, and we’ll be here on your side to advise you of the next steps, the value, and how to conduct the claim in the quickest, most efficient manner.”
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Taking the Weight Off Your Shoulders
A solicitor’s role isn’t just advisory. Much of the practical burden of running a claim is taken on for you.
“What we’ll do here is we’ll take the weight off your shoulders, so we will deal as much as possible with the claim process for you.”
What’s Needed From You as a Client
That doesn’t mean a completely hands-off process. Engagement is still needed, in listening to advice and providing instructions, which is the basis on which a solicitor is able to act for you.
“What we will need is you to engage in that, insofar as listening to the advice that we’re giving and giving your instructions. Ultimately, that’s the basis on which we act. We’re here to act on your behalf to get you the outcome that you would like in this claim.”
For a broader look at the claims process, see our How Personal Injury Claims Work guide
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Frequently Asked Questions
You don’t always have to use one, but a solicitor brings knowledge of the law, the process, and what a reasonable value for your claim might look like, which can be difficult to judge on your own.
As much as possible. The aim is to take the weight of the claims process off your shoulders.
You’ll need to engage with the process, listening to the advice given and providing your instructions, which is the basis on which a solicitor acts on your behalf.
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Conclusion
Making a claim can feel like a lot to take on, especially while recovering from an injury. Instructing a solicitor doesn’t remove you from the process entirely, but it does mean you’re not navigating it, or the pressure that comes with it, on your own.
Thinking about a claim? Read about Personal injury claims and how No Win No Fee works, or send us your enquiry.
No Win No Fee: The law limits our success fee to 25% of the compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity and for past financial losses, after any state benefits are repaid. Compensation for future losses is not counted. If you win, our success fee is deducted from your compensation. It is a percentage of our basic charges, and the law limits it as set out above. Any After the Event insurance premium is payable only if you win, and is never charged upfront. Your letter of engagement sets out exactly what you will pay for your type of claim, and we explain it before you sign. If you lose, you pay us nothing. This applies as long as you keep to your responsibilities under the agreement. You may have to pay costs if you end your claim early, fail to beat an offer the other side made, or a court finds your claim dishonest or exaggerated; where we have arranged After the Event insurance, it covers some of these costs if you keep to the policy's terms. See exactly what you pay.