The growing number of specialist negligence law firms in the United Kingdom appears to be driving an aggressive increase in the number of disgruntled clients pursuing professional negligence claims against lawyers. Research conducted by law firm RPC found that the number of negligence cases brought against lawyers in the High Court this year has lifted from 98 to 130, marking a 33 per cent increase year-on-year and an 170 per cent increase since 2012.

Growing consumer awareness

According to RPC partner Joe Bryant, the growth in negligence claims against solicitors can be traced to the rise of law firms that specialise in professional negligence claims and that pursue new clients through aggressive advertising campaigns. ‘Advertising campaigns both by those specialist professional law firms seeking to sue solicitors and organisations promoting access to the complaints system has meant that clients are more aware of how to make a claim than ever before, and therefore are more likely to pursue one if they feel their solicitor or barrister made an error during their case.’

Litigants in person

While greater awareness of the complaints system and other accountability mechanisms sounds like good news from a consumer rights perspective, Mr Bryant also points out that the growing number of cases that wind up in court is also attributable to the rise of litigants in person. ‘[There] is still not enough knowledge about how complaints against solicitors should be brought, meaning that unrepresented individuals are pursuing claims through the courts and placing significant strain on already severely stretched resources,’ he added.

Sources: Law Gazette; Australasian Lawyer