Can I Change Solicitor During a Personal Injury Claim in Ireland?
Author: Gary Matthews, Principal Solicitor — Law Society of Ireland PC No. S8178 • 3rd Floor, Ormond Building, 31–36 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin D07 • 01 903 6408 •
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different and outcomes vary. Consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your situation.
When you should switch depends on where your claim stands. You can change your personal injury solicitor at any stage of a claim in Ireland. The transfer process is governed by the Law Society of Ireland's Practice Note on Transferring Files [1] and the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 [2]. Changing solicitor before an IRB application involves different fee rules and timing risks than switching after an authorisation has been issued or during active court proceedings.
At a glance: Sign Form of Authority → Old firm issues Section 152 Bill of Costs [3] → Review within 21 days → File transfers via professional undertaking → New solicitor issues Section 150 Notice [2] with cooling-off period. The two-year limitation clock does not pause during transfer.
Contents
Your right to change solicitor in Ireland
You can terminate your solicitor's retainer and instruct a new firm at any point during a personal injury claim. This right is confirmed in the Law Society of Ireland's Practice Note on Transferring Files (updated 2020) 1. You do not need the permission of a court, the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) — formerly known as the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) until 2023 — or the departing solicitor. The right applies whether your claim is at the pre-application stage, mid-assessment with the IRB, or in active litigation before a Circuit or High Court.
A detail that catches many claimants off guard: changing solicitor does not restart your claim. Your medical reports, IRB application, Garda collision report, and all evidence transfer with the file. The incoming solicitor picks up where the departing firm stopped.
When should you consider switching?
The most common trigger for switching is prolonged lack of communication after an IRB application has been submitted. In our experience handling incoming transfers, claimants typically wait months before acting, often believing the silence is normal. It is not.
Consider a transfer if you recognise these patterns:
- No substantive update for more than eight weeks
- Your file is being handled by a different person each time you call
- You are being pressured to accept an IRB assessment you believe undervalues your injuries
- You have discovered your case is being managed by a paralegal or claims handler rather than a qualified solicitor
- Your solicitor cannot explain the current status or next step in plain terms
- Fees were not disclosed in writing at the start, as required by the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, Section 150 2
One aspect the official guidance doesn't cover: a solicitor who accepted a personal injury case on a generalist basis may lack the procedural knowledge to handle the IRB assessment properly or to prepare the file for litigation if the assessment is rejected. This is a legitimate reason to transfer.
Transfer readiness self-check
Answer each question based on your current situation. This is general guidance only, not legal advice.
What a transfer looks like in practice. One client came to us after 11 months without a substantive update following an IRB application. The original firm had not responded to the IRB's requests for supplementary medical evidence. We completed the file transfer in three weeks using a standard professional undertaking, submitted the missing evidence within five days of receiving the file, and the IRB issued its assessment within two months. Every case is different, but the pattern of stalled files that restart quickly after transfer is one we see regularly.
Can you get a second opinion before committing to switch?
A new solicitor cannot give you a proper second opinion on your case without access to the file. The Law Society's Practice Note states that it is not appropriate for a solicitor to advise on a matter where another solicitor is already instructed, because the new solicitor will not have the full picture. 1 This creates a practical problem: you want reassurance before switching, but the reassurance requires the switch to happen first. The way most firms handle this is a preliminary conversation where you describe the issues and the new solicitor explains the transfer process and timeline. They can assess whether your concerns are legitimate without giving substantive legal advice on the merits of the claim itself.
What if your solicitor was allocated through a trade union or claims handler?
You are not bound by any allocation. In Ireland, trade unions and third-party claims management companies sometimes assign personal injury cases to panel solicitors based on existing business arrangements rather than the specific needs of your claim. You have the same right to transfer as any other client. The fact that a union or claims handler introduced you to the firm does not create a contractual obligation to stay. If the solicitor handling your case is not a specialist in your type of injury, or if communication has broken down, the transfer process is identical to any other switch.
How the transfer process works in Ireland
The transfer follows five steps governed by the Law Society's Practice Note on Transferring Files 1 and the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. We call this the Five-Step Transfer Protocol because each step is anchored to a specific statutory obligation that protects your rights during the handover.
Step 1: Sign a Form of Authority. You sign a written instruction authorising the new firm to act on your behalf and to request your file from the departing solicitor. If there are joint claimants, both must sign. 4
Step 2: Your new solicitor contacts the departing firm. The incoming solicitor sends the signed Form of Authority to the departing firm, formally requesting the file and a calculation of outstanding costs.
Step 3: The departing firm issues a Section 152 Bill of Costs. Under Section 152 of the LSRA 2015 3, the departing solicitor must produce a signed, itemised bill detailing all professional fees, outlays, and services rendered up to the date of termination.
Step 4: You review the bill within 21 days. Under Section 153 of the LSRA 2015 [13], you must send a written statement disputing any charges within 21 days of receiving the bill. If you consider the fees excessive, you can challenge them through the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators 6 or file a complaint with the LSRA 7.
Step 5: Professional undertaking, file release, and Section 150 Notice. To overcome the departing solicitor's common law lien, the incoming firm provides a binding professional undertaking to preserve the departing firm's right to their reasonable costs from the settlement. Once accepted, the file transfers. The new solicitor then issues their own Section 150 costs notice, triggering a cooling-off period of up to 10 working days before substantive work begins. 2
What a Section 150 notice must contain
Your new solicitor's Section 150 notice is not a formality. Under the LSRA 2015, the notice must include: the legal costs that will be incurred (or, if that is not yet calculable, the basis on which costs will be calculated), the charges for any third-party services such as barristers or medical experts, a statement that the client has the right to receive an updated notice if costs change, and information on dispute resolution procedures if the client objects to any charges. 2 If the new solicitor's Section 150 notice is vague or missing any of these elements, that itself is a red flag. A properly drafted notice protects you from the same lack of cost transparency that may have caused problems with the departing firm.
Limitation clock keeps running. The two-year deadline under the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991 5 does not pause during a file transfer. If your deadline is imminent, tell your new solicitor immediately. They can issue a protective IRB application or, if the claim is exempt from the IRB, a protective court writ before the full file arrives.
This is not a theoretical risk. In McFadden v Neuhold [2017] IEHC 240, the plaintiff instructed a solicitor to assume conduct of her motor accident claim shortly before the two-year limitation period expired. The solicitor failed to file the required application in time and the claim was held to be statute-barred. The case is a direct warning: if a transfer or new instruction occurs close to the deadline and the solicitor does not take immediate protective action, the claim can be lost permanently.
Section 150 cooling-off exception: Under the LSRA 2015, your new solicitor can bypass the 10-day cooling-off period and begin work immediately if delay would prejudice your rights in a way that could not later be remedied. An imminent limitation deadline or an upcoming court hearing qualifies. 2
What changes at each stage of your claim
The practical implications of switching solicitor differ depending on where your claim currently stands. The Five-Step Transfer Protocol described above applies at every stage, but the risks, timelines, and tactical considerations change at each one.
| Claim stage | Transfer complexity | Key risk | What must happen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-IRB application | Low | Limitation period: ensure the new firm files the IRB application within the two-year window | New solicitor gathers evidence and submits IRB Form A before the deadline |
| During IRB assessment | Low to moderate | IRB correspondence being sent to the wrong firm | New solicitor must update the IRB Solicitors Portal to redirect all correspondence. The assessment continues regardless of the change in representation |
| IRB mediation (if opted in) | High | The 10-day mediation cooling-off: once a mediated agreement is reached, it becomes a binding Order to Pay after 10 days | If you switch during mediation, the new solicitor must review the mediation terms before that 10-day window expires |
| Post-IRB authorisation | Moderate | The Section 50 clock gives you six months plus remaining statute time to issue proceedings | New solicitor calculates exact deadline, gathers full file, and issues Personal Injury Summons within the window |
| During court proceedings | High | A Notice of Change of Solicitor must be filed with the court (€24 stamp duty in the High Court) and served on all parties | If a trial date is set, judges rarely grant adjournments for late representation changes. The new team must absorb the case quickly. Retaining the same barrister helps preserve continuity. Filing requires Order 7, Rule 2 of the Rules of the Superior Courts |
| Approaching settlement | Moderate to high | Accumulated fees from two firms reduce the net amount you receive | New solicitor reviews the settlement offer independently and advises whether it reflects the Personal Injuries Guidelines (2021) [8] for your injury type |
The timing matters more than most guides suggest: in a standard personal injury claim, the IRB reports an average processing time of 11.2 months and a respondent consent rate of 70%. If you are unhappy with your solicitor partway through that assessment window, switching early is almost always better than waiting until after the authorisation is issued.
The mediation row above deserves particular attention. Since the IRB introduced its mediation service for employer liability claims in December 2023 and extended it to public liability in May 2024, approximately 35% of claimants have opted in. Mediated claims can resolve in under three months. That compressed timeline creates a narrow window where switching solicitor mid-mediation is possible but high-risk: once a mediated agreement is reached and the 10-day cooling-off period expires, the agreement becomes a binding Order to Pay with the same enforcement weight as a court order.
What happens to your barrister if you switch solicitor?
You do not automatically lose your barrister (counsel) when you change solicitor. The Law Society's guidance notes that counsel already briefed will usually agree to continue on the case, provided the incoming solicitor retains them and confirms the fee arrangement. 4 In practice, retaining the same barrister during a late-stage transfer preserves the litigation strategy and avoids the new legal team having to re-read every expert report and pleading from scratch. If you are switching during active court proceedings, ask the incoming solicitor whether they intend to keep the same counsel. If they plan to instruct a different barrister, ask why.
Do you need to tell the other side's insurer that you've switched?
No. Your new solicitor handles all notification. Once the file transfers, the incoming firm writes to the defendant's insurer (or their solicitor) confirming the change in representation. You do not need to contact the insurer, the defendant, or the IRB yourself. The new solicitor manages every notification as part of the Five-Step Transfer Protocol.
Fees: what you will and won't pay
There is typically no upfront cost to the client when switching solicitor in Ireland. Professional fees owed to the departing firm are secured through the professional undertaking and deducted from your eventual settlement. You do not pay them out of pocket during the transfer. 1
How much does it cost to change solicitor in Ireland?
In a standard personal injury claim, the direct cost to the client of switching solicitor is usually zero at the point of transfer. Professional fees for the departing firm are held behind the new solicitor's professional undertaking and paid from the eventual settlement, not from your own funds during the handover. Outlays already paid by the departing firm to third parties (medical reports, engineer's reports, IRB filing fees) are typically modest in personal injury claims, commonly in the range of €300 to €800 for a single medical report, and can often be folded into the same undertaking. The only situation that produces an out-of-pocket cost during transfer is a contested Section 152 bill that the incoming firm declines to underwrite via undertaking, which is uncommon in routine personal injury matters. 1
Changing solicitor does not mean paying two full sets of legal fees. The departing firm is paid only for the work completed up to the date of termination. The incoming firm is paid for the work it carries out from that point forward. The total cost across both firms should roughly equal what a single firm would have charged for the full case, though the split and the negotiation of the departing firm's bill can affect the final figure.
The critical distinction is between professional fees and outlays. Professional fees cover the solicitor's time and advice. Outlays are expenses the departing firm paid to third parties on your behalf, such as medical report fees, engineer's reports, or court filing charges. The Law Society's Practice Note recommends that all outlays paid by the departing solicitor are refunded immediately upon transfer, rather than deferred to settlement. 1
The financial stakes are real. According to the Central Bank of Ireland's National Claims Information Database (October 2024) [12], average legal costs for litigated personal injury claims under €100,000 reached €7,128, representing over 40% of total settlement value in litigated cases. An unchallenged, inflated bill from a departing solicitor can further reduce the amount you take home.
What happens to a "no-foal, no-fee" arrangement? The Law Society's Ten Steps Practice Note 4 states clearly: if the client terminates the retainer, the no-foal, no-fee arrangement is also terminated. The departing solicitor is entitled to be paid for work done to the date of termination. This does not mean you receive a large bill in the post. Those fees are typically secured through the incoming solicitor's undertaking and settled from the case proceeds. But the common belief that you owe nothing at all if you switch is incorrect.
One detail that surprises clients: under Citizens Information guidance on legal costs [9], if you accept the IRB's compensation assessment rather than proceeding to court, the IRB does not award legal costs. Each side bears its own. This means the departing solicitor's fees are deducted from your award, which reduces the amount you take home.
What if your solicitor refuses to release the file?
A solicitor in Ireland has a common law right to exercise a lien on your file until outstanding fees are paid, but this right is not absolute. Three routes can break the deadlock. 1
Professional undertaking. The standard route. The incoming solicitor provides a binding written promise to secure and pay the departing firm's costs from the settlement. Most departing firms accept this for professional fees. Some refuse for unpaid outlays.
GDPR data portability. Under Article 20 of the General Data Protection Regulation [10], you have the right to receive personal data you provided to the departing firm in a machine-readable format. The Law Society of Ireland's Practice Note on Transferring Files confirms that this portability right overrides the solicitor's lien for personal data. 1 It does not cover the solicitor's own work product, such as internal strategy notes, but it does cover documents you supplied and correspondence about your claim.
Court direction. If the departing solicitor refuses both an undertaking and a GDPR request, the court can direct the release of the file. This is a last resort. In Ahern v Minister for Agriculture [2008] IEHC 286, Ms Justice Laffoy drew an important distinction: where the solicitor has discharged the retainer (rather than the client), the court will normally make a mandatory order requiring the original solicitor to hand over the file against an undertaking from the new solicitor to preserve the lien. This distinction matters because clients sometimes assume the departing firm holds all the power. If the solicitor withdrew from the case, the balance shifts in the client's favour.
How to dispute excessive costs
If you believe the departing solicitor's Section 152 bill is excessive, you have a 21-day statutory window to challenge it. Under Section 153 of the LSRA 2015 13, you must send a written statement to the solicitor setting out the nature of the dispute within 21 days of receiving the bill.
Two bodies handle fee disputes in Ireland:
Before engaging either body, understand the two categories of legal costs. Party-and-party costs are the costs strictly necessary and appropriate for the case. These are usually recovered from the losing side if your claim succeeds in court. Practitioner-and-client costs are costs reasonably incurred but not strictly necessary. These are what the client bears directly. When reviewing a departing solicitor's Section 152 bill, check which category each charge falls under. Party-and-party costs are recoverable from the other side at the end of the case. Practitioner-and-client costs reduce the amount you take home. 6
The Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators (formerly the Taxing Master's Office, renamed in 2019) provides independent assessment of legal costs in High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court cases. According to reporting based on the Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator's data, approximately 1,100 adjudications valued at roughly €210 million were on file in 2023. Of the 181 cases that went to hearing, costs were reduced from €22.8 million claimed to approximately €13 million awarded. 6
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) handles complaints about solicitors, having taken over this function from the Law Society on 7 October 2019. The LSRA handles three types of complaint: inadequate legal services, excessive costs, and misconduct. Any client can complain. There is a three-year time limit on complaints about inadequate services and excessive costs. 7
The 15% reduction rule: If the Legal Costs Adjudicator reduces a departing solicitor's bill by 15% or more, the solicitor becomes liable for the costs of the adjudication process itself. This gives you a strong negotiating position during fee discussions before a transfer. 6
How to choose your new solicitor
The right replacement solicitor should be registered with the Law Society of Ireland, specialise in personal injury claims, and assign a single named solicitor to your case.
Before instructing a new firm, assess them against these five questions:
| Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Will a qualified solicitor manage my file from day one? | Files handled by paralegals or claims handlers are the most common red flag in incoming transfers |
| Have they handled claims through the IRB and court process before? | Generalist firms may lack the procedural knowledge for IRB assessments or Circuit Court litigation |
| Will they explain the Section 150 costs notice clearly? | A vague or missing costs notice from the new firm repeats the same transparency failure |
| Are they prepared to meet you (in person or remotely) to review the file? | A firm that won't discuss your case before you sign is not prioritising your interests |
| Have they been upfront about fees owed to the departing solicitor? | Hidden costs during transfer erode trust and can delay the handover |
Between assessment and settlement, the sticking point is usually whether the new solicitor has enough experience to identify whether an IRB assessment undervalues the claim or whether accepting it is the better commercial decision. Ask for specific examples of claims they've handled at a similar stage.
What to bring to your first meeting with the new solicitor
A transfer consultation is different from a fresh case intake. The new solicitor needs to assess where your claim stands, not start from zero. Bring the following to give them the clearest possible picture:
- Your original retainer letter or terms of engagement from the departing firm
- Any IRB correspondence you have received (assessment, authorisation, or application acknowledgement)
- The most recent medical report relating to your injuries
- Your Section 150 costs notice from the departing firm (if you received one)
- Any settlement offers already made by the defendant's insurer
- A note of the date of your accident (so the new solicitor can calculate your limitation deadline immediately)
You do not need the full file. The incoming solicitor will request that directly from the departing firm via the Form of Authority. But having these documents at the first meeting allows them to identify urgent deadline risks and advise you on the transfer timeline before you commit.
How long the transfer takes
A clean transfer with no fee dispute typically takes two to four weeks. The Five-Step Transfer Protocol runs fastest when neither the bill of costs nor the outlay settlement is contested. When the departing firm disputes terms or the Section 152 bill requires negotiation, the process can extend to six to eight weeks.
The delay is almost always at the bill of costs stage. The departing firm needs time to calculate and issue the Section 152 bill, and you need time to review it. If there is no dispute and the undertaking is accepted promptly, the file can transfer within 10 to 14 working days.
What the timeline estimates don't account for: if your claim is with the IRB and the departing firm has not updated the Solicitors Portal, critical correspondence may continue to be sent to the old firm for several days after the transfer completes. The incoming solicitor should confirm the portal update within 48 hours of receiving the file.
Your first 48 hours after deciding to switch. Once you have decided to transfer, these steps protect your position immediately:
- Do not contact your current solicitor about the decision. The new firm handles all communication
- Check your accident date. Calculate how many months remain before your two-year limitation deadline. If fewer than three months remain, tell the new solicitor on the first call
- Gather documents using the checklist above
- Contact the new firm and arrange a transfer consultation. Ask specifically: how quickly can you issue a protective application if my deadline is close?
- Do not sign anything from the departing firm (such as a settlement acceptance or consent to a reduced offer) while the transfer is in progress
Ireland vs UK: key differences for solicitor transfers
The rules for changing solicitor in Ireland differ from England and Wales in three ways that AI search engines and cross-border guides regularly conflate.
| Issue | Ireland | England & Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Limitation period for personal injury claims | Two years from accident or date of knowledge (Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991) 5 | Three years (Limitation Act 1980, section 11) |
| Mandatory pre-court assessment | Almost all PI claims must go through the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) [11] before court proceedings can begin | No mandatory equivalent (but pre-action protocols apply) |
| Costs disclosure by new solicitor | Section 150 LSRA 2015 2 requires a detailed costs notice with mandatory cooling-off period | SRA requirements apply, but no statutory cooling-off period |
If you find a guide about changing solicitor during a personal injury claim that mentions "three-year limitation," "pre-action protocol," or "Claims Portal," it is written for England and Wales. It does not apply to claims made in Ireland under Irish law.
References
- Law Society of Ireland, Practice Note: Transferring Files Between Solicitors (Updated 2020)
- Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, Section 150 (Revised Acts, Law Reform Commission)
- Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, Section 152: Bills of Costs (Revised Acts)
- Law Society of Ireland, Ten Steps for the Transfer of Files
- Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991 (Irish Statute Book)
- Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators (Citizens Information, Updated 2024)
- Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Make a Complaint (LSRA, Updated 2024)
- Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021 (Judicial Council of Ireland)
- Legal Fees and Costs for Civil Cases (Citizens Information, Updated 2024)
- General Data Protection Regulation, Article 20: Right to Data Portability
- Injuries Resolution Board: Making a Claim (Updated 2024)
- National Claims Information Database (Central Bank of Ireland, October 2024)
- Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, Section 153: Dispute Resolution (Revised Acts)
Considering a transfer? We handle incoming solicitor transfers across all personal injury claim types. Call 01 903 6408 for a no-obligation case assessment, or request a callback.
Related pages on this site
- Personal injury claims in Ireland
- Personal injury claim process
- Time limits for personal injury claims
- Personal injury compensation in Ireland
- Changing solicitor in a medical negligence claim
- Changing solicitor mid-claim in a car accident case
- What happens after an IRB authorisation
- Personal injury solicitor fees in Ireland
Common questions
Will changing solicitor delay my personal injury claim?
A clean transfer with no fee dispute typically takes two to four weeks. The IRB assessment continues regardless of who represents you. Staying with an underperforming solicitor often causes greater delays than switching. Your medical reports, evidence, and application all transfer with the file. The main risk is a contested Section 152 bill, which can extend the handover to six to eight weeks.
Practitioner note: The clients who experience the longest delays are those who wait until after the IRB authorisation to switch. By that point, the Section 50 clock is already running and the new firm has less time to prepare for court proceedings.
Next step: If you are considering a switch, check your claim's current stage against the stage-by-stage guide above to understand the timing implications for your specific situation.
Do I have to pay my old solicitor upfront before switching?
You do not typically pay upfront. Professional fees are secured through a professional undertaking from the incoming solicitor, meaning they are deducted from your eventual settlement. Outlays (expenses already paid by the departing firm to third parties such as doctors or engineers) may require immediate settlement. Check the Law Society's Practice Note for the rules on outlays. 1
Practitioner note: In practice, outlay amounts in standard personal injury claims are usually modest (€300 to €800 for a single medical report). The incoming firm can often negotiate to include them in the undertaking. Clinical negligence outlays are far higher and handled differently.
Next step: Ask your prospective new solicitor whether they will handle the outlay negotiation as part of the transfer process.
Can my solicitor refuse to release my file in Ireland?
A solicitor can exercise a common law lien on the file until fees are paid, but the right has limits. A professional undertaking from the new firm typically resolves the issue. If the departing solicitor still refuses, your GDPR Article 20 data portability right overrides the lien for personal data you provided. As a last resort, the court can direct the file release. 1 10
What happens to my no-win-no-fee agreement if I switch?
If you terminate the retainer, the no-foal, no-fee arrangement is also terminated. The departing solicitor is entitled to be paid for work done to the date of termination. These fees are secured through the new firm's professional undertaking and settled from your case proceeds, not from your own pocket during the transfer. 4
Can I change solicitor after the IRB assessment?
Yes. After receiving an IRB authorisation, you have six months plus any remaining statute time to issue court proceedings under Section 50 of the PIAB Act 2003. You can switch solicitor during this window. The incoming solicitor should calculate your exact deadline and ensure proceedings are issued before it expires. 5
Can I change solicitor if my case is already in court?
Yes, but a Notice of Change of Solicitor must be filed with the court and served on all other parties. If a trial date has already been set, courts rarely grant adjournments because of a late switch. The new team must absorb the full case history quickly. Retaining the same barrister (counsel) can help preserve litigation strategy. 4
How do I complain about my solicitor to the LSRA?
You can submit a complaint in writing to the LSRA about inadequate legal services, excessive costs, or misconduct. There is a three-year time limit on complaints about inadequate services and excessive costs. The LSRA will first invite both sides to resolve the matter informally. If that fails, a complaints officer investigates and can direct refunds, fee waivers, or sanctions. 7
Does changing solicitor affect my compensation amount?
Switching solicitor does not affect the legal value of your claim. The defendant's insurer cannot use a change of solicitor as evidence of weakness. In practice, transferring to a more experienced firm can result in a higher valuation if the original solicitor was undervaluing the claim or failing to gather proper evidence. The main financial impact is that two firms will share the costs deducted from your settlement rather than one.
Can I change solicitor if I am not based in Dublin?
Yes. You can instruct any solicitor in Ireland regardless of where you live. Remote consultations by phone or video are standard practice. No in-person meeting is required to initiate a transfer or to manage a personal injury claim. 4
Practitioner note: Most incoming transfers we handle are from clients outside Dublin. The file transfers electronically. Geography does not affect the process or the outcome.
Next step: Call any firm you are considering and ask if they handle transfers from other solicitors. If they do, the process is identical regardless of your county.
What to consider next
What if my claim involves medical negligence, not a standard personal injury?
Medical negligence claims bypass the IRB entirely and involve different outlay rules, expert report ownership issues, and High Court filing requirements. The transfer process is more complex. See our dedicated guide: changing solicitor in a medical negligence claim.
What happens after the IRB issues an authorisation?
You have six months plus remaining statute time to issue court proceedings. This is a common stage for switching solicitor. See: what happens after an IRB authorisation.
How are solicitor fees structured in Ireland?
Understanding the fee structure before you switch helps you assess the departing firm's bill. See: personal injury solicitor fees in Ireland.
*In contentious business and in accordance with Section 149 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, a legal practitioner shall not charge any amount in respect of legal costs expressed as a percentage or proportion of any damages (or other moneys) that may become payable to his or her client or purport to set out the legal costs to be charged to a junior counsel as a specified percentage or proportion of the legal costs paid to a senior counsel. A legal practitioner shall not without the prior written agreement of his or her client deduct or appropriate any amount in respect of legal costs from the amount of any damages or moneys that become payable to the client in respect of legal services that the legal practitioner provided to the client.
Gary Matthews Solicitors
Medical negligence solicitors, Dublin
We help people every day of the week (weekends and bank holidays included) that have either been injured or harmed as a result of an accident or have suffered from negligence or malpractice.
Contact us at our Dublin office to get started with your claim today
