Frequently asked questions
Why aren’t all specialist clinical negligence solicitors listed?
Only solicitors who have been accredited by AvMA as members of our specialist clinical negligence panel are included in Find a Solicitor*. The AvMA panel is an essential quality mark for clinical negligence solicitors and this allows us to maintain a very high standard of entries.
AvMA charges firms a small fee for inclusion in Find a Solicitor which helps raise much needed funds for the charity. Most firms who have a panel solicitor are included and you can obtain details of those who have chosen not to be included from our helpline.
- * But see “Solicitors in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland” below
What does ‘special interest’ mean?
Specialist interests are areas where individual solicitors have a particular interest. However, this does not in all cases mean that they have more knowledge or experience of that area than other solicitors. The specialist interests listed are based on information provided by the solicitors themselves and has not been verified by AvMA.
When choosing a solicitor you should always ask them to explain their experience relevant to your case. If you would like to discuss your individual requirements and to have a solicitor recommended by one of our advisors, please contact our helpline.
Solicitors in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
There are different legal systems in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to England & Wales, and AvMA does not accredit specialist medical negligence solicitors in these countries. However the solicitors listed here have demonstrated their commitment in this field by joining AvMA’s lawyers’ resource service and have signed up to AvMA’s code of practice.
What if a solicitor won’t take on my case?
It is in no-one’s interest for a solicitor to take on a case which is likely to fail or which they are not capable of handling. Specialist solicitors will ‘screen’ cases based on their suitability for that firm and the chances of success.
If your case is declined, ask for an honest and detailed reason why. You can seek a second opinion from another firm but you may need to accept that legal action is not appropriate in your case. This does not necessarily mean that you don’t have a legitimate complaint – it may have more to do with legal technicalities and weaknesses in the system.
You can ask AvMA or the solicitor what other options are open to you. This could include seeking an official apology or action to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Does AvMA receive any payment if I go to a firm of solicitors or if they take on my case?
No. AvMA receives no ‘referral fees’ or payment linked to referrals or enquiries. We simply want people to get the best help available.
What is Find a Solicitor?
Find a Solicitor is a free service to help you quickly find a specialist clinical negligence solicitor who may be able to take on your case.
At AvMA, we want to ensure that you get the best possible help and a very important part of this is finding the right solicitor. Clinical negligence is a very specialised area and not all solicitors will be able to give you the expert support and advice you need.
We strongly recommend that you consult two or three accredited solicitors before deciding who to instruct. By using AvMA’s Find a Solicitor search, you can be sure that you will be contacting a solicitor who is an expert in clinical negligence.
The Find a Solicitor website is owned and maintained by Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA), 82 Tanner Street, London SE1 3GN.
While we try to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in Find a Solicitor, AvMA cannot accept any liability arising from your use of the site. You should always check any information with the solicitor when you contact them.