My insurer has told me I must use their panel solicitor. Someone called me from the panel solicitors telling me they are a “litigation specialist.” Is this the same as a solicitor and do I have to use who my insurer tells me to? I will be honest, they didn’t exactly fill me with confidence as they asked if I was wearing a seatbelt … on my motorbike!
Answer
Wow! That may top the story I heard where the panel solicitor asked if my Client had reversed into the taxi behind her, at speed, whilst she was riding a Fazer 600! With regards to representation, despite what anyone tells you i.e. your insurer etc, you are the Client, you got the injury, it is your claim, and you can choose your own solicitor. If you do choose to let your insurer dictate what legal representation you have, be very careful as to the status of the person who they propose to use to run your claim. There are all kinds of phrases bandied about such as “Litigation Specialist” “Paralegal” and “Solicitor Liaison Officer.” In short, none of these titles mean the person is a qualified solicitor, and they may not have any legal qualifications at all! Whilst there are some very good litigators who are not solicitors, there are some very poor ones around as well. So do your homework to make sure someone can do the job properly. You can actually check on the Law Society website to see if someone is a solicitor.
Andrew Prendergast
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – January 2026
