LHD Avis 2

I was a client if another firm when LHD took over my original lawyers business. Firstly it took 3 months almost to get any contact our of th, then they told me I wasn't a client my case was closed. After going back and forth with several emails, they finally found my case and informed me oh yes we do have a current claim for you. I then get assigned a new lawyer not my original who had transferred over from the last company. The lawyer assigned was located in Sydney and I am in Melbourne, I told them I wanted a local person to work on my case, but was refused and told Sydney lawyer it was. This person was unhelpful, made no contact I had to keep chasing her up, and when she did respond to emails she was blunt and gave little information. Once my claim was approved and settled she failed to give me proper information and accurate explanation on processes so this has mucked up my access to my funds. I am really unhappy with the service and lack of communication and to put it mildly the blunt rude way in which the lawyer dealt with me over the approximate 8 months they acted for me. All I can say is I am glad my civil case had been finalised and she was only acting to obtain my TPD, as it wouldn't of gone smoothly I am sure. I would never use them again or recommend them. I even had to ask for a detailed invoice on charges 3 times, to be told " you are not charged for work I haven't done" ... Well I wanted an invoice for my own records and to confirm that. Terrible attitude.

Unfortunately, my experience with LHD in handling my workers' compensation case fell well short of expectations. Initially, the salesperson I spoke to seemed empathetic to my situation and the challenges within the system. However, when faced with actual challenges, I felt unsupported and encountered additional difficulties that prolonged the process and increased costs.

As someone who pays close attention to details, I encountered substantial challenges during my engagement with LHD. These challenges included noteworthy errors in official documents and conflicting advice provided at various stages. Furthermore, there was an unexplained change in the acting solicitor shortly after joining LHD, coupled with the receipt of an invoice for the additional time the new solicitor required to familiarise themselves with my case.

Despite my diligent efforts to follow up on queries and inquire about the progress of specific aspects of my claim, responses were infrequent, or not received at all. Multiple email queries, including alerts regarding a significant error, went unanswered. Additionally, a letter expressing my concerns to the Director two weeks ago has not been acknowledged or responded to.

Unfortunately, agreed-upon actions were not executed, leading to a lack of confidence in the overall management of my case. Billing information provided was unclear and inconsistent. Post-settlement, I discovered that I was billed for reports deemed irrelevant to my case, causing confusion and dissatisfaction.

The cumulative impact of the injury, exacerbated by workplace bullying and non-compliance from my employer's insurer, resulted in a significant decline in my mental health. Despite positive reviews from others, I did not experience a sense of empathy or understanding, particularly when pressured to make decisions within short timeframes and without all the necessary information. At times, I felt unduly influenced to make decisions that favoured the firm. This sentiment was intensified by the impression of being coerced into settling the case. (I strongly recommend thoroughly reading the Cost Agreement and clarifying any unclear aspects in writing before proceeding with the signing process.)

In summary, my interaction with LHD regarding my workers' compensation case fell short of satisfaction. I believe improvements are necessary for a more effective and empathetic legal representation, as detailed in the letter addressed to the Director. I have also sought assistance from the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia, hoping to prevent others from experiencing a similarly challenging situation.