jes law

Yes, you can bring a defamation claim without the help of a lawyer. You can also carry out conveyancing without the help of a solicitor or write your own will. However, there are risks associated with this.When you are unwell you go to a professional, a doctor. When you have a legal problem you should seek legal advice from a specialist solicitor. You may think it is cheaper to try and ‘do it yourself’ but you may end up paying for this in the long run.

For example, if you bring a high value defamation claim and lose, you are likely to be liable for the vast majority of your opponent’s legal costs which could be substantial. Had you instructed a defamation solicitor, firstly, the chances of you succeeding with your claim would be higher as the solicitor would have specialist expertise and knowledge in the area. Furthermore, a defamation solicitor may be able to help settle your claim without the need for court action.

There various methods and tools available to litigators to help them settle claims on behalf of their clients. For example, offers to settle can be made (both without prejudice save as to costs and Part 36 Offers), mediation and other forms of alternate dispute resolution could be explored as well.

If you instruct a solicitor they will be best placed to advise you on this in more detail. Before court proceedings are issued they may be able to settle your claim for you. Under the pre action protocol for defamation claims a letter of claim should be sent to the defendant prior to issuing proceedings.

A defamation solicitor will be able to draft this for you and deal with any subsequent negotiation settlements should the defendant admit liability. If the defendant disputes liability then your solicitor will be able to advise you on the appropriate next steps, including issuing court proceedings.

If you require legal advice regarding defamation, you can contact a specialist solicitor today.