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Guide · Personal injury
Can I Change My Personal Injury Solicitor?
Yes. You can change your personal injury solicitor at any point during your claim, and you don't need to give a reason. Your new solicitor usually handles the transfer for you, and your old firm's costs are normally protected and dealt with at the end of the claim rather than paid by you upfront. Before you switch, ask your new solicitor to explain how it affects your costs.
If you're unhappy with how your claim is being handled, you're not locked in. This guide explains how changing solicitor works, what happens to your No Win No Fee agreement, and when switching might not be the right choice.
- Reason needed
- No
- Your file
- Transferred to your new solicitor
- Your old firm's costs
- Usually protected and dealt with at the end of the claim
- Our review
- Free, with no obligation to switch
Why do people change their solicitor?
There's no minimum reason. It's about whether you have confidence in the people handling your claim. The most common reasons we hear are:
- Poor communication, such as unreturned calls, slow replies or not being kept up to date
- Lack of progress, with the claim seeming to have stalled and no clear next steps
- Feeling pushed to accept a settlement you think is too low
- Your claim being passed between different people
- Concern that your solicitor doesn't have enough experience of your type of claim
- A general loss of confidence that the firm is acting in your best interests
If you're unhappy, you can also raise a complaint with your current firm first. If that doesn't resolve things, you can take it to the Legal Ombudsman.
How to change your solicitor, step by step
Talk to a new solicitor first
Before ending things with your current firm, speak to the solicitor you're thinking of moving to. They can review your claim, tell you whether switching makes sense at this stage, and manage the move for you. We offer a free review of claims handled by other firms, with no obligation to transfer.
End your current agreement
You, or your new solicitor on your behalf, write to your current firm to say you're ending the agreement and moving your claim. You don't have to give a reason. They should also account for any money they're holding for you.
Your file is transferred
Your old firm may be entitled to keep your file until its costs are paid or protected. In practice, your new solicitor usually gives a written promise, called an undertaking, to protect those costs, and the file is then passed over.
Your new solicitor takes over
They review the documents, evidence and steps taken so far, check for any upcoming deadlines, and carry on with your claim from where it is. They'll also tell the other side, and the court if proceedings have started.
What happens to your No Win No Fee agreement?
Most personal injury claims are funded by a No Win No Fee agreement, called a Conditional Fee Agreement. When you change solicitor, there are usually 2 agreements to think about.
- Your old firm's agreementYour old firm may be entitled to be paid for the work it has done, depending on the terms of your agreement. This is usually dealt with at the end of the claim, and much of it is normally recovered from the other side if your claim succeeds, rather than paid by you upfront.
- Your new agreementYou'll sign a new No Win No Fee agreement with your new solicitor. By law, the success fee in a personal injury No Win No Fee agreement can't be more than 25% of your compensation for pain and suffering and your past financial losses. Compensation for future losses, such as future care and earnings, is protected.
- InsuranceIf you have legal expenses or after-the-event insurance for your claim, your new solicitor will check whether it can be transferred or needs replacing.
Get clear answers on costs first
Before you switch, ask your new solicitor to explain how both agreements could affect the compensation you receive. A good firm will be open about this, and will only recommend switching if it's in your interests.
Will changing solicitor delay my claim?
A well-managed transfer should cause very little delay. Your new solicitor will need a few weeks to review the file, and should check straight away whether any time limit, court deadline or response date is coming up, so nothing is missed.
When switching might not be right for you
Close to settlement
If your claim is about to settle, moving it could cause disruption for little benefit.
Costs would outweigh the benefit
If the costs of 2 firms would reduce your compensation more than switching would help.
An urgent court deadline
If a deadline is so close that the transfer can't be completed safely in time.
We'll be honest with you about all of these. If switching isn't in your interests, we'll tell you.
Changing your solicitor: FAQs
Can I change my personal injury solicitor at any time?
Yes. You can end your agreement with your solicitor at any point in your claim. The closer your claim is to settlement or trial, the more carefully you should think about whether the benefits of switching outweigh the disruption.
Will I have to pay my old solicitor if I switch?
Your old firm may be entitled to be paid for the work it has done, depending on your agreement. This is usually protected by your new solicitor and dealt with at the end of the claim, and much of it is normally recovered from the other side if your claim succeeds, rather than paid by you upfront.
How long does it take to transfer a personal injury claim?
Usually a few weeks. Once the file has been transferred, your new solicitor needs time to review it, but a well-managed transfer should cause very little delay to your claim.
What if my old solicitor won't transfer my file?
Your old firm may hold on to the file until its costs are protected. Your new solicitor will usually sort this out by giving a written undertaking to protect those costs. If there's still a problem, you can complain to the firm and then to the Legal Ombudsman.
Will the other side find out I've changed solicitor?
Yes. Your new solicitor will tell the other side's insurer, and if court proceedings have started, file a notice of change with the court. This is routine and doesn't affect the strength of your claim.
How much can a No Win No Fee success fee be?
In personal injury claims, the success fee can't be more than 25% of your compensation for pain and suffering and your past financial losses. Compensation for future losses is protected. See No Win No Fee explained.
Thinking of changing solicitor?
We'll review your claim for free and tell you honestly whether switching makes sense, including how it could affect your costs. There's no obligation to transfer. Eligible claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis.