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Last updated September 06, 2023

Can I change lawyers during my claim?

You can change lawyers or switch lawyers at any time during your claim. This applies to any workers’ compensation claims, motor vehicle claims, or public liability claims.

In fact, switching lawyers to a new lawyer is a relatively straightforward process in a personal injury claim. Personal Injury Law firms are well versed in this process, clients change lawyers, it is relatively common practice between personal injury lawyers. The original law firm must continue to act in the best interests of the client in their compensation claim while the clients decide on a potential new lawyer, on a No Win No Fee basis.

If you decide to change lawyers you should not need to pay your current Lawyer anything at the time the file is transferred to your new Lawyer.

If you are unhappy with your Lawyers’ performance and have lost confidence in their ability to achieve a great result for you, then you should speak to other Lawyers to see if they can do a better job. It is imperative that you have clear communication and your lawyer is able to explain the whole process to you. You need to be confident they are going to achieve the best outcome on your behalf.

It is very important that you are 100% happy with your Lawyer and the results they are getting for you as some claims can only be made once, and the difference between a Lawyer achieving average results and a Lawyer achieving great results could cost you thousands in compensation.

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Sydney personal injury law firm changing lawyers

Changing Lawyers is a relatively simple process. If you've lost confidence in your personal injury lawyer, make sure to obtain a second opinion from a different Lawyer.

Changing Lawyers

In most personal injury matters, you need to sign a No Win No Fee costs agreement or what is known as a Conditional Costs Agreement. This means that you do not pay any legal costs until the conclusion of your claim. If you have signed a No Win No Fee costs agreement, then there is usually no difficulty in changing to another Lawyer.

In order to change lawyers you will need to:

  • Find another Lawyer to take over the conduct of your claim;
  • Sign a document authorising your new Lawyer to take over the conduct of the claim from your old lawyers.

Once your previous Lawyer receives that authority, you are no longer their client and they are not entitled to contact you, other than to send a bill of costs for work completed to date.

What happens next?

The original Lawyer should then forward the file to your new Lawyer on the undertaking that the original lawyers’ reasonable costs and disbursements will be paid at the end of the claim.

Often a Tripartite Deed, also known as a Tripartite agreement, is entered between the original Lawyers, new Lawyers, and the client to ensure that reasonable costs and disbursements will be paid to the old Lawyers at the conclusion of the claim when changing firms.

Sometimes difficulties can arise where the original Lawyers refuse to release their file and require payment of disbursements, such as the cost of medical reports. In No Win No Fee costs agreements, you do not need to repay the disbursements until the conclusion of the claim, in most circumstances.

We recommend an Accredited Specialist when choosing a Lawyer

An Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law is the most Senior Lawyer in personal injury law. This is an industry recognition, by The Law Society of NSW, that your lawyer has undertaken specialist training and has deep experience in personal injury law to qualify them as an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law.

Changing Lawyers is a relatively simple process. You do not need to repay any legal costs until the end of your claim. If you have lost confidence in your lawyer, then you should seek further obtain further legal advice, a second opinion from a new lawyer. You are in no way obliged to move firms after this first consultation, but it can help you decide if you do need to switch lawyers.

We always recommend that any Lawyer you chose to act on your behalf in a claim for personal injury should be an NSW Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law.

Please see our article here on why you need an Accredited Specialist.

Changing lawyers 5 point summary –

  1. Why Change? – If you are unable to get an update on your case or you do not have confidence in your lawyer.  You should be able to change lawyers at any time.
  2. Which Lawyer?  Read google reviews for independent feedback from previous clients.
  3. Legal Qualifications?  Always choose an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law. 
  4. Authorisation – Provide the signed document to your new lawyer to take over your claim.
  5. Agreement – agree on costs and disbursements to be paid to the original lawyer.  These will not be paid until the end of your claim.  (this will depend on the type of cost agreement you signed with your lawyer)

Terms and Definitions

  • Tripartite deed – this is an agreement between your old lawyer and the new lawyer on costs and disbursements.
  • Legal costs and disbursements – are usually paid at the end of the claim when you are successful.

Contact Garling and Co today for your confidential free case appraisal.  Your journey to recovery starts now.

 

Garling & Co Lawyers

Matthew Garling

Matthew Garling is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law approved by New South Wales Law Society. He is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia. Matthew is also a member of...
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Rachel R.
09:13 17 Nov 24
Although a long journey, the team at Garling & Co Lawyers have been amazing. They are thorough and clear with the processes and the expectations. It is a pleasure dealing with Emma and Rebecca. They... take all the weight off our shoulders when it comes to all the legal stuff and they make us feel comfortable and confident in their ability to look after us.read more
Angie & Brian M.
00:58 18 Sep 24
We cannot recommend Garling and Co. Lawyers highly enough! Our principal solicitor, Matthew Garling, was absolutely outstanding throughout our entire legal journey. He, along with the fantastic team... in the office, especially Allison, provided outstanding support. They were always responsive, willing to listen, and took the time to thoroughly explain the entire process. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, we achieved a brilliant outcome.read more
Yanthi S.
11:22 12 Sep 24
I engaged with Garling and Co to assist me for my weekly payment dispute with the insurance. I was upset with Natasha, as she didn't prepare me to the worse outcome or told me about the kind of... negotiation in the hearing. I assumed that as a Lawyer she should have an experience with the process or the way to solve the case. Even though I asked her what should I do or what would be happened in the hearing a week before but she didn't mentioned anything, and told me not do anything. But in the hearing she and the Barrister only gave me less than 5 minutes to make decision and pushed me to accept the disappointed outcome and what she said in the hearing totally different with what she said earlier. I don't trust her at all, her words is not consistent.I would like to express my appreciation to Matthew Garling who had stepped in to handle my weekly payment issue with the insurance. He is very professional, knowledgeable, easy to talk to and very humble. My disappointment earlier has melted away by his kindness and caring to resolve my issue which has came out the great outcome. Now I am satisfied with his expertise therefore I would not hesitate to let him to handle the case I might have in the future.As I said before I would not hesitate to let my other claim to be handled by a professional as Matthew Garling. I would like to thank him for his time and effort to settle my case smoothly and I trusted him to give me the best outcome. Also I appreciated his support and his patience to answer my questions from the time I signed the agreement up to the day before the mediation. He did not promise the unrealistic outcome but what ever he promised that what the result was according to his experiences. And I would not forget to Alison, Nathan who also have assisted this matters, by gathering all documents and answering my questions.Also my appreciation to a Barrister Mr Dallas Morgan.So, in summary I am really grateful to have Garling and Co as my lawyer to handle my damaged claim.read more
Tina S
07:45 29 Aug 24
Thank you for the great outcome!
Lisa L.
05:18 13 Jul 24
Outstanding service and commitment to my case was delivered from the first point of contact right until the end of my successful case.Highest recommendations to the team at Garling and Co. Matthew... got me an excellent result and was available and informative throughout the entire foreign process of legal proceedings. He was wonderful and so was his team.If i could rate higher than 5 stars i would!read more
J B
07:12 02 Jul 24
Matthew Garling and all of the team were extremely professional and supportive throughout what was a very long and arduous CTP battle. I am happy with the result and feel that their fees were fair... and well deserved.read more
Nelson B.
02:11 30 Jun 24
Professional, prompt & honest service
Ray H.
07:33 13 Jun 24
Matthew Garling and Team are kind, patient, polite, professional, empathetic and efficient. I was treated terribly by the at fault insurer. Garling and Co. had my back. Matthew gently and patiently... kept me up to speed on all the steps to go through. From my personal experience I recommend these guys. They are safe hands. Thank you team.read more
Jo L.
05:58 07 May 24
So very impressed with the professional team who looked after me throughout the last 4 and 1/2 years. A special mention to Kerry and Nathan who navigated each request to fight for my right to gain... access to further treatments and physio and to ensure medical treatment would be covered moving forward. I was so grateful I could hand it all over to you and not have to go through this very challenging time without your support.I thank you for the compassion you have provided to me, from the first contact with Matthew and Natasha, to finalisation with Kerry and Nathan.I highly recommend the team at Garling and Co for any third party compensation claims. You are in good hands with them all.read more
Linda O.
21:53 06 May 24
Emma, Rebecca and the team at Garling and Co have worked diligently throughout my workers compensation claim. The level of professionalism, support and communication has been faultless. Of particular... note has been the sensitivity displayed to me throughout the lengthy process. Worker’s compensation claims are complex and not easy to navigate, particularly when you are unwell. I do not hesitate to recommend Garling and Co to help you find a way through this otherwise unfathomable system.read more
READ ALL TESTIMONIALS

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Rachel R.
09:13 17 Nov 24
Although a long journey, the team at Garling & Co Lawyers have been amazing. They are thorough and clear with the processes and the expectations. It is a pleasure dealing with Emma and Rebecca. They... take all the weight off our shoulders when it comes to all the legal stuff and they make us feel comfortable and confident in their ability to look after us.read more
Angie & Brian M.
00:58 18 Sep 24
We cannot recommend Garling and Co. Lawyers highly enough! Our principal solicitor, Matthew Garling, was absolutely outstanding throughout our entire legal journey. He, along with the fantastic team... in the office, especially Allison, provided outstanding support. They were always responsive, willing to listen, and took the time to thoroughly explain the entire process. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, we achieved a brilliant outcome.read more
Yanthi S.
11:22 12 Sep 24
I engaged with Garling and Co to assist me for my weekly payment dispute with the insurance. I was upset with Natasha, as she didn't prepare me to the worse outcome or told me about the kind of... negotiation in the hearing. I assumed that as a Lawyer she should have an experience with the process or the way to solve the case. Even though I asked her what should I do or what would be happened in the hearing a week before but she didn't mentioned anything, and told me not do anything. But in the hearing she and the Barrister only gave me less than 5 minutes to make decision and pushed me to accept the disappointed outcome and what she said in the hearing totally different with what she said earlier. I don't trust her at all, her words is not consistent.I would like to express my appreciation to Matthew Garling who had stepped in to handle my weekly payment issue with the insurance. He is very professional, knowledgeable, easy to talk to and very humble. My disappointment earlier has melted away by his kindness and caring to resolve my issue which has came out the great outcome. Now I am satisfied with his expertise therefore I would not hesitate to let him to handle the case I might have in the future.As I said before I would not hesitate to let my other claim to be handled by a professional as Matthew Garling. I would like to thank him for his time and effort to settle my case smoothly and I trusted him to give me the best outcome. Also I appreciated his support and his patience to answer my questions from the time I signed the agreement up to the day before the mediation. He did not promise the unrealistic outcome but what ever he promised that what the result was according to his experiences. And I would not forget to Alison, Nathan who also have assisted this matters, by gathering all documents and answering my questions.Also my appreciation to a Barrister Mr Dallas Morgan.So, in summary I am really grateful to have Garling and Co as my lawyer to handle my damaged claim.read more
Tina S
07:45 29 Aug 24
Thank you for the great outcome!
Lisa L.
05:18 13 Jul 24
Outstanding service and commitment to my case was delivered from the first point of contact right until the end of my successful case.Highest recommendations to the team at Garling and Co. Matthew... got me an excellent result and was available and informative throughout the entire foreign process of legal proceedings. He was wonderful and so was his team.If i could rate higher than 5 stars i would!read more
J B
07:12 02 Jul 24
Matthew Garling and all of the team were extremely professional and supportive throughout what was a very long and arduous CTP battle. I am happy with the result and feel that their fees were fair... and well deserved.read more
Nelson B.
02:11 30 Jun 24
Professional, prompt & honest service
Ray H.
07:33 13 Jun 24
Matthew Garling and Team are kind, patient, polite, professional, empathetic and efficient. I was treated terribly by the at fault insurer. Garling and Co. had my back. Matthew gently and patiently... kept me up to speed on all the steps to go through. From my personal experience I recommend these guys. They are safe hands. Thank you team.read more
Jo L.
05:58 07 May 24
So very impressed with the professional team who looked after me throughout the last 4 and 1/2 years. A special mention to Kerry and Nathan who navigated each request to fight for my right to gain... access to further treatments and physio and to ensure medical treatment would be covered moving forward. I was so grateful I could hand it all over to you and not have to go through this very challenging time without your support.I thank you for the compassion you have provided to me, from the first contact with Matthew and Natasha, to finalisation with Kerry and Nathan.I highly recommend the team at Garling and Co for any third party compensation claims. You are in good hands with them all.read more
Linda O.
21:53 06 May 24
Emma, Rebecca and the team at Garling and Co have worked diligently throughout my workers compensation claim. The level of professionalism, support and communication has been faultless. Of particular... note has been the sensitivity displayed to me throughout the lengthy process. Worker’s compensation claims are complex and not easy to navigate, particularly when you are unwell. I do not hesitate to recommend Garling and Co to help you find a way through this otherwise unfathomable system.read more
University of Technology, Sydney
Member of Law Society of New South Wales
Law Society of NSW Specialist Accreditation
University of Sydney
Legal Profession Admission Board of New South Wales
The law society of nsw professional standards scheme logo.
University of Technology, Sydney
Member of Law Society of New South Wales
Law Society of NSW Specialist Accreditation
University of Sydney
Legal Profession Admission Board of New South Wales
The law society of nsw professional standards scheme logo.
Google Rating
4.9