Switch personal injury lawyers in Melbourne and get a free second opinion

It is one of the most common reasons people change firms, and it is a legitimate one. Poor communication is rarely just poor communication — it usually reflects how much attention the file is actually getting.

You are entitled to know what stage your claim is at, what the next step is, and roughly when it will happen. If you cannot get that from your current firm, ask for it in writing. If it still does not come, get a second opinion.

There is no penalty for asking, and no obligation attached to it. The conversation is confidential and your current lawyer is not notified.

Usually, yes. Most stalled claims are not stalled because the claim is weak. They are stalled because nobody has driven the next step: a medical report has not been commissioned, a dispute has not been lodged, or an insurer decision has been left unchallenged past the point where it should have been.

When we take over a file, Sha audits the work already done, identifies exactly where it stopped moving, and sets out what has to happen next. That audit is the point of switching. You are not paying for the same work twice — you are getting a specialist to find the step that was missed.

Strict time limits apply to WorkCover, TAC and TPD claims. A file that has been drifting for months is the one most at risk of a deadline passing unnoticed.

No. In fact, transferring a stalled file to an Accredited Specialist is usually the best way to speed it up. We do not start from scratch. When we request your file from your previous firm, we inherit all the medical evidence, witness statements and lodgements already completed. We simply take that existing groundwork, fix any strategic errors, and drive it forward.

No, you will not pay out of pocket or be hit with double fees. When you transfer your file to Hotchin Gupta Lawyers, we take over on a strict No Win, No Fee basis. Your previous firm will simply place a lien on your file, meaning they are paid for the work they have done so far only out of your final successful settlement at the very end of the case. The overall fee structure remains largely the same; the fees are just apportioned between the two firms based on the work each has done.

Charging a percentage of your compensation is unlawful in Victoria, at either firm. If you have been quoted a percentage, that alone is worth a second opinion.

Absolutely not. We know that breaking up with your current lawyer can feel awkward or intimidating. You do not have to make that phone call or send an uncomfortable email. Once you sign a transfer authority with us, we handle everything. We send formal notice to your old firm, instruct them to stop acting on your behalf, and arrange the transfer of your entire file directly to our office.

Your initial consultation with us is completely confidential. Your current legal team will have no idea we are speaking unless you decide to instruct us and sign the official transfer paperwork. You can explore your options with complete peace of mind.

It is rarely too late to seek better representation. Whether you are still waiting for your initial weekly payments to be approved, or you are facing a complex dispute at conciliation, an experienced specialist can step in.

There is one point where timing genuinely matters: if a settlement offer is already on the table, get advice before you accept it. Once a claim is settled it is final, and that is the moment a second opinion is worth the most.

Strict statutory time limits apply to WorkCover, TAC and TPD claims, so if your current lawyer is letting your file gather dust, it is important to get a second opinion before those deadlines expire.

Big firms often run on a volume model, meaning your file is passed down to junior staff to manage. We operate differently. We cap our caseloads so that every client receives direct, senior representation. Your case will be managed end to end by Sha, an LIV Accredited Specialist with 16 years of dedicated experience in complex personal injury litigation. We know how to reverse rejected claims, secure medical funding and pursue maximum lump-sum payouts.