Choosing a personal injury solicitor in Dublin is an individual decision. Relevant experience, clear communication, responsibility for the day-to-day work and written costs information are more useful criteria than advertising claims or predictions about an outcome.
1. Check the solicitor’s professional status
The Law Society of Ireland provides a public Find a Solicitor facility containing details of solicitors and firms. This can be used as part of checking the firm’s identity and professional status.
A directory entry does not establish that a solicitor is suitable for a particular matter. It is a starting point for further questions about experience, availability and the service that will be provided.
2. Ask about relevant experience
Personal injury matters can involve different factual and legal issues. A road collision, workplace accident, public-place accident and child injury claim may require different evidence and investigation.
Ask whether the solicitor has experience of matters involving the relevant type of accident or disputed issue. The useful question is not how many cases a firm claims to have “won”, but how the solicitor would approach liability, medical causation, evidence and procedure in your circumstances.
3. Find out who will manage the matter
Ask who will have day-to-day responsibility, who will make important decisions and who you should contact with questions. A clear division of responsibility can help avoid confusion later.
You may also wish to ask:
- Who will review medical and liability evidence?
- Who will communicate with the respondent or insurer?
- How will important developments be explained?
- When might a barrister, engineer, doctor or other professional be required?
4. Consider communication and Dublin logistics
A Dublin office may be convenient for a person who lives or works nearby, but location alone does not determine the quality of the service. Consider how the solicitor communicates and whether the arrangements suit your needs.
Ask how documents will be provided, whether discussions can take place by telephone or video where appropriate and how frequently updates are normally given. If an in-person meeting is important, confirm the arrangements directly with the firm.
5. Use the initial discussion carefully
An initial discussion can help you understand how the solicitor would approach the matter. It should not be treated as a prediction that the claim will succeed or of the amount of any award.
Provide a clear account of what happened and disclose relevant previous accidents, injuries or medical conditions. Ask what further information is needed and what immediate steps may be required.
Useful documents may include medical information, photographs, witness details, incident reports, correspondence, receipts and evidence of loss of earnings. See the personal injury evidence guide before organising the file.
6. Ask for written costs information
Section 150 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 generally requires a solicitor to provide written costs information after receiving instructions. The notice must disclose the legal costs or explain the basis on which they will be calculated if exact disclosure is not yet reasonably practicable.
Ask about professional fees, VAT, anticipated outlays and circumstances in which another party’s costs could become payable. Do not assume that a short costs expression answers all of those questions.
General information is available on our page explaining solicitors’ fees and outlays.
7. Treat reviews and recommendations as one factor
A recommendation from someone you trust may help identify a firm. Online reviews may also provide information about communication and client service.
Reviews cannot establish that your claim will succeed or predict how another matter will be handled. Consider whether the review describes matters relevant to you, such as responsiveness, clarity and organisation, rather than focusing only on an outcome.
Questions to compare Dublin solicitors
- Is the solicitor’s professional status verifiable?
- Does the solicitor have relevant experience of the accident or issues involved?
- Who will be responsible for the matter?
- How will communication and document exchange work?
- What evidence should be preserved?
- What process is likely to apply?
- When will the written section 150 costs notice be provided?
- What professional fees, VAT, outlays and third-party costs may arise?
- How will material changes in expected costs be addressed?
Frequently asked questions
Must I choose a solicitor located in Dublin?
No general rule requires a claimant to choose a solicitor in the same city or county. Location may be convenient, but relevant experience, communication, capacity and written costs information are also important.
Can a solicitor tell me whether I will win?
No outcome should be guaranteed. A solicitor can identify strengths, limitations and missing evidence, but the assessment may change as further medical, witness or liability material becomes available.
Should I choose the firm with the highest review score?
A review score is only one factor. Verify the firm, ask about relevant experience and decide whether the solicitor communicates clearly and provides appropriate costs information.
What should I bring to an initial discussion?
Bring or provide a clear chronology and any available photographs, reports, correspondence, witness details, medical information and expense records. Do not delay necessary medical treatment merely to assemble documents.
Where can I learn about Lalloo Solicitors’ service?
See the firm’s information on personal injury solicitors in Dublin. For a broader comparison outside Dublin, read our guide to choosing a personal injury solicitor in Ireland.
Official information
- Law Society of Ireland — Find a Solicitor
- Law Society — directory information and limitations
- Irish Statute Book — section 150 legal-costs notice
- Injuries Resolution Board — making a claim
Reviewed by Lalloo Solicitors.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for legal advice concerning a particular matter. No solicitor-and-client relationship arises until Lalloo Solicitors confirms its appointment in writing.
