In the UK, professional conduct issues can arise across many sectors, including legal services. Understanding how professional conduct applies to legal executives is vital.
What is Professional Conduct?
Professional conduct means meeting the expected standards of behaviour and competence in your role. For legal professionals, such as solicitors and legal executives, it requires acting with due care to protect clients’ interests.
Failing to meet these standards—by missing deadlines, giving poor advice, filing incorrect documents, or providing inadequate representation—can cause harm or loss to clients. When that happens, a professional conduct breach occurs.
Legal executives, trained specialists working alongside solicitors, must demonstrate competence and professionalism. They belong to the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) and adhere to strict ethical codes.
Understanding Legal Executives Role
Legal executives assist solicitors by conducting research, preparing documents, and managing client communication. They often specialise in areas like family law, conveyancing, or criminal law. Though not solicitors, they provide essential legal services and must uphold high standards.
If they fail to meet these standards, clients may pursue claims for breaches of professional conduct to seek compensation for losses.
If you suspect a breach of professional conduct, our legal team can assist you. Reuben Law specialises in assessing claims and guiding clients through the legal process.
We can help by:
Investigating the claim and collecting evidence
Advising on the strength of your case and potential outcomes
Negotiating settlements to achieve fair compensation
Representing you in court if litigation becomes necessary
If you believe a legal executive or solicitor acted improperly, act quickly. Options include:
Filing complaints with regulatory bodies like the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or CILEx
Claiming financial compensation for losses
Using alternative dispute resolution (ADR) such as mediation or arbitration
Taking court action, if necessary
Cases like Smith v. Mid-Bedfordshire District Council (2018) show solicitors held accountable for missing deadlines that caused clients’ claims to be dismissed. In Johnson v. Dunlop (2015), a legal executive mishandled a divorce case, leading to compensation for financial loss and stress.
These examples highlight the importance of holding legal professionals accountable for their conduct.
At Reuben Law, we understand professional conduct complexities. We provide expert advice and representation to help clients affected by breaches of conduct from solicitors or legal executives. Our experienced team is dedicated to securing the best possible outcomes.
If you face consequences due to poor professional conduct, contact Reuben Law. Our friendly, knowledgeable team is ready to help you seek justice and compensation.