What is barrister negligence?
There are a number of situations where a barrister may have been negligent. Negligence occurs when a barrister fails to meet the standard of care expected of a reasonably competent professional, and that failure causes loss to their client.
This can happen in many ways, such as:
- Failing to properly advise negligently drafting documents
- Missing critical deadlines, such as limitation periods
- Mishandling court advocacy or cross-examination
- Overlooking key evidence or failing to properly advise on settlement
Not every mistake amounts to negligence, but where a barrister’s errors have directly caused you financial or personal loss, you may have grounds for a professional negligence claim.