Accident Solicitors Helpline FAQs

We have set out below short answers to some of the frequently asked questions about instructing an accident claims solicitor and how the Accident Solicitors Helpline can help you.

What are solicitors?

Solicitors are law graduates who have qualified to practice law in England and Wales. For most clients they are the first, and usually last, port of call for legal issues. Occasionally solicitors will brief barristers to appear for clients in court, but for the most part solicitors advise clients on most legal issues. There are more than 100,000 solicitors currently on the roll of solicitors.

How are Solicitors regulated?

The Solicitors Regulatory Authority was established by the Legal Services Act in 2007 to act as the official regulatory body for the U.K. legal profession. The SRA sets qualification standards for solicitors, administers the roll of solicitors, drafts the rules for professional conduct, hear reports of misconduct and penalises solicitors breaching the rules.

What if I have a complaint about a solicitor?

The way to report a solicitor or firm is via the Legal Complaints Service (LCS). The LCS will act as an entry point to the regulatory process for your complaint.

If you are reporting a solicitor whom you have instructed to act on your behalf for a personal injury claim, the LCS will investigate your complaint and may, itself, be able to require the firm to compensate you if the service or advice you have received is inadequate. If the LCS believes that the SRA needs to investigate the misconduct, it will refer the information to the SRA.

What if my complaint about a solicitor leads to a formal investigation?

If the SRA decides based on your complaint there are issues to investigate, the SRA will advise you:

  • Whether it is taking up your complaint with the individual solicitor or firm,
  • Whether you need to provide more evidence to the SRA,
  • When it has enough information to make a decision,
  • When it has made a final decision.

How can UK Lawyers Network help me?

The UK Lawyers Network believes that it is frequently difficult for clients to make up their minds about which of the 100,000 solicitors registered in the UK are best placed to help them with their accident compensation claims. That is why we require all firms joining the Network to create video profiles by partners of the firm explaining exactly who they are and how they work. Moreover, all of the firms commit to speak or meet with you for free to discuss you case at no charge before you instruct them.