Need to know

• Medical negligence is in the headlines due to the new Jess’s Rule.

• Negligence claims don’t stop at doctors, lawyers can also find themselves in the firing line.

• These cases often involve a mix of hurt clients and reputations on the line, demanding empathy and care.

Welcome to TSL’s Weekly Edge, whether you’re aiming for a regional or high-street practice, or just want to get a feel for how law works in the real world beyond textbooks, you’re in the right place. 

No corporate jargon, no massive deals, just real useful information designed to give you that extra edge in your legal journey.

🧠Wilson’s Weekly Wisdom

You belong here, even if you’re the first.

Imposter syndrome hits hardest when you feel like the odd one out. I was the first in my family to go to uni, and felt like I was the only one in my tutor group who didn’t study A-level law. I didn’t know anyone in the legal industry and had this feeling that no one around me really “got” what a training contract even was. 

On several occasions these made me question if I was really cut out for this. If you feel the same, let me tell you now: you are!

I saw a post a while back with a definition of “FOCUS” that’s stayed with me ever since: “Follow On Course Until Success”.

Your journey might look different, but that doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path. Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep going. You don’t have to feel 100% confident to be 100% capable.

You belong! Not because you tick every box, but because you’re doing the work to be here.

💡Spotlight Article

For high street solicitors, understanding how professional negligence claims work is about helping real people navigate real problems and making sure they’re protected when things go wrong.

🔎What’s happening? 

When professionals mess up, it can cause real problems, and not just for them, but for the people who rely on them. We’re talking money lost, stress, and damage to reputations.

Lately, the UK’s seen more professional negligence claims popping up, especially in jobs that affect our day-to-day lives.

Think about it:
• A GP misses early signs of an illness.
• A solicitor forgets a key clause in a property deal.
• A contractor cuts corners on a home renovation.

Any of these can turn into a full-blown dispute, and this is where civil litigation comes in.

Recently, medical negligence has been making headlines again, thanks to something called Jess’s Rule, a new NHS patient safety measure.

So, what does that mean for the legal side of things? 

📌Case study 1: Jess’s Rule and Medical Negligence (2025)

Jessica Brady was just 27 when she died from cancer, after being told over and over by her GP that her symptoms were down to long COVID.

She contacted her surgery more than 20 times before finally getting a referral, but by then, it was too late. Her story led to Jess’s Rule, a new NHS guideline that tells doctors to take another look if a patient comes back three times with the same unresolved symptoms. It’s not a law, but it’s still a big deal when it comes to professional negligence.

Why?

Because when courts decide what counts as “reasonable” professional behaviour, they look at what’s expected in the field. If GPs are now supposed to double-check recurring cases, ignoring that could start to look like negligence.

For smaller law firms working with healthcare clients, this matters a lot.

Many handle cases where someone feels their GP, dentist, or local clinic let them down. Knowing how new guidelines like this shift the standard of care could be the difference between winning or losing a claim or defending one.

📌Case study 2: When Solicitors Slip Up in Conveyancing

It’s not just doctors who get caught up in negligence claims; lawyers do too.

Imagine this: a solicitor’s handling a house sale but forgets to mention there’s a restrictive covenant on the property.

The buyer goes ahead, completes the purchase, and then finds out they can’t extend or build like they planned. Cue stress, wasted money, and, yes, a lawsuit!

For a client to win a negligence claim, they’ve got to prove three things:

1. The solicitor owed them a duty of care.

2. That duty was breached, or in simpler terms, the solicitor missed something a competent one shouldn’t have.

3. That mistake cost the client money.

These cases pop up more than you’d think, especially in high street conveyancing, where solicitors are spinning plates; tons of client files, tight deadlines, and constant pressure.

Bottom line?

Paying attention isn’t just a good habit; it’s your best insurance against being sued later!

❓ Why it matters to high street firms

Professional negligence cases mix technical know-how with a lot of human emotion.

You’re often dealing with clients who feel totally let down, or professionals trying hard to clear their name. That’s where high street law firms really come in!

For instance, you could:

• Spot early warning signs: When a client says, “My solicitor didn’t tell me this,” or “My GP ignored me,” you’ll know which legal test applies and where the line might’ve been crossed.

• Balance empathy and evidence: These cases get emotional fast. You’ll need to stay grounded. Help clients see the difference between an honest mistake and an actual breach of duty.

• Defend your own corner: High street firms aren’t immune either. For example, conveyancing claims pop up a lot because of how detailed the work is. Knowing how negligence cases work isn’t just useful, it’s self-defence.

If you want to be that calm, level-headed voice when everything’s gone sideways, you’ve got to know the civil litigation process inside out.

Duty of Care

In legal terms, it’s the duty professionals have to act with the same skill and care you’d expect from any reasonably competent person in their field.

Put simply, it’s the standard you owe your clients. If you fall short of that, and your client ends up worse off because of it, that’s negligence.