STEPHENSONS SOLICITORS LLP

I strongly advise vulnerable service users, especially disabled clients — to think very carefully before approaching this law firm. In my own experience, their approach was harmful, negligent, and obstructive, and fell far below acceptable professional standards. This is not a competent solicitor firm with a strong knowledge, understanding in disability law, so be very mindful before approaching them as a disabled client. The outcome was a cost cutting exercise in preserving key funding under the Legal Help Scheme.

Stephensons LLP is a firm that relies on junior, graduate frontline staff to manage and handle the administrative tasks of a complex caseload is very concerning, while the supervising solicitor works in the background drafting official and legal papers — making decisions with very little involvement with the client.

My personal experience with Stephensons Solicitors LLP has been profoundly damaging and raises serious concerns about their competence in complex legal cases, conduct, and compliance with professional standards. I was an autistic disabled client solely reliant on their expertise under the Legal Help scheme for legal advice and support. Instead, they withheld the funding to save costs in their decision rather than provide adequate service to disabled clients, and a fair access to justice.

Despite being fully aware of my documented disabilities and vulnerabilities from the start, Stephensons failed to provide or put in place reasonable adjustments as required by law, under Section 20 of the Equality Act 2010. This also includes anticipatory adjustments. In my view, their handling of my case showed a fundamental misunderstanding — or a clear disregard — of how the Equality Act must be applied in practice when supporting disabled clients. This is clearly referenced and outlined in the Law Society’s policy guide with regard to communication practices instructing vulnerable clients. Their conduct resulted in my significant acute distress, anxiety, cognitive dissonance and confusion, and a complete breakdown in accessibility and communication with the solicitor toward the end of their instructions.

The firm retained my case in total isolation under assessment for approximately nine months, without clear communication, transparency or consistent guidance and advice. There was no clear case management in place or regular updates to keep me informed on the progress of my claim under their instructions. Instead I was left chasing a never-ending determination for an outcome — that had taken an unprecedented nine months for the solicitor to conclude and confirm in writing. This kept me holding on to ambiguity with dear life, questioning the status of my claim held in isolation by the firm, and whether they would act for my case. A decision and outcome on the merits of my claim was made extremely near the critical court deadline to service my claim. This was not good practice at all. It would seem that the firm’s nine month of instructions was spent entirely to frame their unreasonable determination and assessment outcome for my claim, resulting in their unexpected withdrawal.

The prolonged delay obstructed essential actions for safeguarding, and mismanagement caused uncertainty about court deadlines, and impaired my ability to pursue the claim effectively. Their handling appears inconsistent with SRA Principles on client care, diligence, and transparency. This significant delay I experienced was not only unreasonable — it obstructed my access to justice. Their late, and abrupt withdrawal from my case occurred dangerously close to key deadlines, leaving me exposed, unrepresented, and in a total state of crisis.

In addition, I experienced the firm's defensive overuse and weaponisation of technical legal language and intimidation upon a vulnerable client in their documents and communication strategy, such as repeated assertions that my 'allegations will be robustly defended' for my complaints raised against the firm, and that ‘Stephensons will not be held responsible’, in avoidance of accountability.

I had a very disappointing experience with Stephenson’s Solicitors, particularly in my interactions with Kruti Vyas. I felt that a lot of my time was wasted throughout the process, and I often struggled to get clear explanations about what was happening or what I needed to do next. Communication was poor, and I did not feel supported or informed.
At one point, I even received documents that clearly weren’t meant for me. This made me extremely uncomfortable and raised serious concerns for me about how client information is handled.
Overall, my experience felt unprofessional and frustrating from start to finish. I personally would not use this firm again and would urge others to be cautious.

Asked if they operate with legal aid. Reply i received blocked access to justice by creating artificial barriers... they still wanted money for inital review even though I'm broke and have legal aid. Avoid.

My experience with Stephensons has been nothing short of frustrating, stressful, and deeply disappointing. 1 Star is extremely generous for the service I received.

I instructed them for a straightforward legal matter, expecting professional service, but what I received was completely unacceptable.

Despite paying for a solicitor, my case was handled by a junior who repeatedly produced error-filled legal documents, including basic miscalculations. The final document was still inaccurate even after multiple revisions. When I raised concerns, getting a response was nearly impossible—calls were ignored, emails went unanswered, and even escalations marked as “high priority” were completely disregarded.

Supervisors were nowhere to be found, and when I finally managed to involve a legal partner, they had been on leave and still failed to address the situation upon their return. The entire process caused me more stress than handling the matter myself, which completely defeats the purpose of hiring a solicitor.

Given the lack of professionalism, poor attention to detail, and abysmal communication, I would strongly advise against using Stephensons. I have now taken my business elsewhere and would urge others to do the same. If you want a solicitor who actually answers the phone and gets the job done properly, look elsewhere.

Cooperation with this company is an absolute nightmare!! I thought that the previous lawyers, from whom Stevensons took over my case, were terrible, but how easily one can be mistaken... Zero communication whatsoever. I send several emails without any response. I call and there's no reply. There was an issue with the correct name of the company responsible for management in my building (various things happen...), but it took the lawyer almost 2 weeks to kindly send an email with information about it. In a moment, I have a remortgage, which probably won't go through precisely because of Stephensons!! Stress, loss of money, waste of time!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND!!