posted 27th April 2026
What is solicitor negligence?
Solicitor negligence occurs when a solicitor fails to meet the standard of care expected of a reasonably competent professional, and that failure causes you loss. To bring a successful claim, you must show:
- The solicitor owed you a duty of care
- They breached that duty
- You suffered financial loss as a result
Solicitors in England and Wales are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and must meet strict professional standards.
Common examples of solicitor negligence
Some of the most common situations include:
- Missing court deadlines (limitation periods)
- Failing to issue proceedings in time
- Giving incorrect or incomplete legal advice
- Poor handling of litigation
- Under-settling a claim
- Failing to follow instructions
For example: if your solicitor failed to file a claim before a legal deadline expired, causing your case to be struck out, you may have a strong negligence claim.
Can I claim compensation?
Yes, if negligence is proven.
You can usually claim compensation to put you back in the position you would have been in if the negligence had not occurred.
This may include:
- Lost claim value (e.g. personal injury settlement)
- Financial losses caused by bad advice
- Additional legal costs
How do I prove solicitor negligence?
To prove a claim, you typically need:
- Evidence of what the solicitor did (or failed to do)
- Expert opinion on what a competent solicitor would have done
- Evidence of financial loss
Professional negligence claims often involve reviewing the original case to assess what should have happened.
Should I complain or make a claim?
You may have two options:
- Make a complaint to the solicitor or the Legal Ombudsman
- Bring a professional negligence claim for compensation
A complaint may result in an apology or small award, but only a negligence claim can recover full financial losses.
You should consider taking action if:
- Your case was lost due to your solicitor’s mistake
- You received poor or incorrect legal advice
- You believe your claim was under-settled
- Deadlines were missed
What to do next
If you believe your solicitor has been negligent, the next step is to obtain specialist advice on whether you have a valid claim.
Our team of specialists can assess your case and advise you on your options.
Start your free case assessment today.
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