Personal injury lawyer and A personal injury lawyer handles claims for damages resulting from accidents, illnesses or medical negligence.

What laws govern personal injury and medical negligence?
Personal injury and medical negligence law focuses on helping clients seek compensation for injuries sustained in public or workplace accidents, as well as injuries caused by medical negligence.

Types of personal injury claims

Road traffic accidents – car, motorcycle and bicycle accidents; pedestrian accidents; road traffic accidents involving uninjured or uninsured motorists; and whiplash injuries.

Workplace accidents/occupational illnesses/diseases – accidents on construction sites and in ports; agricultural accidents and illnesses; injuries from lifting and carrying objects; workplace accidents, including trips and slips;

defective machinery and equipment; inadequate training, instruction, information and supervision; and safety and protective equipment (PPE).

Trips, Slips and Falls in Public Places – Accidents in cafes, restaurants, supermarkets and shops; trips and slips on the pavement; accidents in public places and accidents at school or university.

Other Accident Claims – Serious and complex personal injury claims; defective products and services; hair care, beauty treatments, body art;

dog bites, dog attacks and animal-caused accidents; holiday accidents and illnesses abroad; public transport accidents;

agricultural accidents and illnesses; military accidents; hand-arm vibration syndrome; sports injuries and other accident and personal injury claims.

What does a personal injury lawyer do?

Law firms usually specialise in representing claimants (i.e. the injured party) or defendants.

Personal injury lawyers who represent plaintiffs work directly for an individual or on their behalf through insurance companies or unions if the claim relates to their work. Lawyers who specialize in defendant litigation often represent the defendant’s insurance company, such as the car insurance company in a car accident.

What skills are required?

A personal injury lawyer may work with individuals who have suffered serious injuries or for the families of those who have died as a result of injury, illness, or medical negligence.

They must be able to show empathy for victims and their families in difficult situations while remaining objective throughout the trial.

As in many other areas of law, large amounts of written material must be processed, including briefs and testimony. Excellent time management skills are therefore essential. A natural interest in technology and medicine is helpful in navigating the complex details of a case.

Excellent communication and negotiation skills are essential, as personal injury lawyers work with clients from a wide range of backgrounds, including insurance company representatives, medical and other technical professionals and legal practitioners.

How do you become a personal injury lawyer? To become a solicitor, you can take the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) or, where appropriate, the Legal Practice Course (LPC).

Once you have passed the SQE, you will also need to complete two years of qualifying work experience (QWE). To prepare for the SQE, we recommend that you take one of our SQE courses. These courses will give you the knowledge and skills you need for a successful career as a solicitor.

If you meet the requirements for the LPC, you will need to complete a two-year traineeship at a law firm. Visit our Solicitor Training page to find out which route is best for you.

After completing your two-year traineeship or QWE, you can apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for admission to the legal profession.

To become a solicitor you will need to have a Bachelor of Laws degree or, if you have not studied law, complete a retraining course before taking the Bar Practice Course (BPC). You will then need to secure a placement.

You can also take a Master of Laws (LLM) in Medical Law and Ethics, an LLM in Psychiatry or an LLM in Insurance Law to gain the knowledge and skills you need to work in this sector.