TM Law Solicitor Terry Maylin provides an expert overview of the pitfalls of using an unregulated litigation advisor instead of a fully qualified solicitor to undertake your legal work. 

Beware who you appoint to do your legal work

There’s a well-used legal phrase, “buyer beware”, that’s become well known as a general piece of advice when buying goods or services. And it applies just as much when paying for legal services.

Rather than appointing a firm of solicitors, like TM Law, to handle their legal affairs, some people or businesses try to cut corners and save money by working with firms falsely passing themselves off as qualified legal professionals…. when in reality they nothing of the sort.

Some unfortunate members of the public are sadly simply duped into working with “litigation advisors” and “litigation firms” – fooled by their misleading claims to regulated legal expertise. 

There are now a plethora of companies popping up offering “legal services” and giving the impression from their website, letter-headings and publicity material that they are solicitors and able to deal with litigation matters on your behalf.

This is quite untrue as only solicitors, Chartered Legal Executives and barristers have rights of audience in court and can conduct litigation matters (although you can of course represent yourself).

Unregulated litigation advisors have no legal standing

At TM Law we have come across numerous examples of such firms who are unregulated, but who do have some legal knowledge.

What they do not have is:

• a regulatory body to make sure they are properly governed
• compulsory indemnity insurance in the case of a mistake
• procedures in place to protect client money

There are non-regulated companies out there masquerading as solicitors that have no legal standing, cannot bring or defend legal proceedings in court, and are unlikely to have indemnity insurance or safeguards in place to protect clients’ money.

So if something does go wrong, you could be left with no redress – or redress against a worthless limited company.

Think very carefully about who you appoint

The question is, why would you want to instruct an unregulated “litigation advisor” to take on legal work for you?

They may offer “fixed fees” or cheaper rates than a regulated solicitors practice – but at the end of the day, you get what you pay for!

The example that came to light recently of the Romford firm Troy Lucas is a timely warning to be very careful who you instruct. Such a firm may not have the necessary expertise to deal with your matter, let alone be insured should things go horribly wrong, like they did in that case.

Negligent advice from Troy Lucas left a 70-year-old Basildon man – who had appointed the firm to fight a negligence case against the local hospital – able to pursue only part of a claim for life-changing injuries and permanent disability, and facing a five-figure legal costs bill.

Get peace of mind and expertise from a solicitor

In summary, for all your legal matters, make sure you use a solicitor as they will usually be able to offer fixed fees and as competitive prices as these unregulated rogues in any case.

More importantly, you will get peace of mind that the job will be done properly. And if there is an issue, they are insured as well as having protection in place to ensure that client money is fully protected.

 

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About TM Law – Specialist Debt Recovery Solicitors

Based in Hockley, Essex, TM Law is a small and dedicated solicitors.  With many years’ experience, helping business owners and local individuals with matters of personal injury, compromise agreements, employment disputes, debt collection, commercial disputes and much more.

As a specialist debt recovery solicitors, TM Laws’ knowledge of the debt recovery system available to recover money is second to none, and their approach is proven to achieve maximum recovery for minimum outlay on behalf of local business.

For a personal service, practical advice and quick recovery of your money contact us today.  We offer a fair, fixed fee service and we’re always happy to help.