Julia Hurlbut

How can I help you?

Clinical Negligence or Medical Negligence is the name given to the process where we as lawyers bring claims against medical institutions, doctors or dentists for compensation on behalf of our clients. To bring a claim, we set out to prove that the standard of care received by our client fell short of what would be considered reasonable and harm ensued as a result.

Although compensation is the only remedy available through the courts, our role is so much more than that.  We support and guide our clients through what is often a very emotive and stressful time. We also seek rehabilitation where relevant.  This saves the NHS money in the long run and most importantly, it helps our clients to regain some of the independence lost as a result of their injuries.

I manage the department to ensure its smooth running and work closely with the department’s teams (legal, medical and administrative) to ensure that we deliver a first rate service for our clients.  We constantly strive to improve what we do to ensure that we are amongst the best in this field of practice in the UK; this includes keeping abreast of all the latest developments in this area of law and assisting in campaigns for access to justice for injured patients. 

I also run a small caseload of catastrophic injury cases.

A little about me

I strive to make a positive difference to the lives of my clients and I feel privileged to be in the position where I can help them. I live on the Wirral. In my spare time I like to read, watch films, go out for meals and walk. I have two teenage sons which is an occupation in itself!

I’m a Trustee of Wirral Mencap and on the committee of Merseyside Medico Legal Society. 

My experience

I started out as a Paralegal in 1989 dealing with multi-party cases most notably on behalf of Haemophiliacs who were given infected blood clotting treatment, Factor VIII via the NHS. Sadly, my clients went on to contract HIV and AIDS. The treatment back then was nowhere near as effective as it is today and many of my clients (including children) died. The injustice I felt for my clients gave me the impetus to then go on to specialise in medical negligence.

I qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in 1997 and a Solicitor in 2008. I joined Jackson Lees in 1998 and it’s already established medical negligence department. With the wealth of experience I gained, I obtained independent accreditation by Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) in January 2002 and have been reaccredited every 5 years since.