Challenging with Confidence: Navigating MDT Dynamics with Lawyers

One of the most common questions raised in our recent Case Manager Confidential session was: “How do you challenge within the MDT - especially when the solicitor is involved?”

It’s a tricky space to navigate. Case Managers are trained to think clinically and act in the best interests of their clients - yet when legal teams are part of the mix, the dynamics can shift. Roles blur, power balances shift, and sometimes it can feel as though your clinical judgement is being questioned.

Here’s what our community shared about how to manage those moments with confidence and professionalism.

1. Remember: This Is a Team, Not a Hierarchy

It’s easy to feel intimidated when lawyers are in the room. But within the MDT, everyone has a distinct role — and no one’s expertise outweighs another’s. The Case Manager’s clinical insight is as valuable as the solicitor’s legal perspective.

Don’t be afraid to speak up. Challenging constructively doesn’t mean being confrontational; it means ensuring the client’s rehabilitation needs remain at the centre of decisions.

“Don’t be scared of the lawyer. This is a team, not a hierarchy.”

2. Keep the Boundaries Clear

Claimants should always be able to have private conversations with their solicitor — that’s their right. But those discussions shouldn’t exclude or undermine the MDT. If decisions are being made that affect rehabilitation, the Case Manager should be involved or at least informed.

If you feel a solicitor is taking too much control, explain the clinical consequences. Often, lawyers don’t realise how their decisions might affect care delivery or timelines. Framing your input around outcomes and impact can make those conversations more productive.

3. Challenge as a Team

If a difficult conversation needs to happen, you don’t have to do it alone.
In many cases, a deputy or another senior member of the MDT can help support you in speaking with the solicitor. Presenting a united, multidisciplinary front helps reinforce that this isn’t personal — it’s about ensuring the best outcome for the client.

4. Build Relationships — Not Rivalries

The most successful teams spoke about understanding each other’s worlds. Taking time early in a case to set expectations, share working styles, and establish regular communication makes it much easier to resolve tensions later.

When it works well, it’s because the Case Manager and solicitor are in continuous dialogue — both willing to pick up the phone, share insight, and act as problem-solvers rather than competitors.

As one case manager put it:

“We’d been through it together — I even called the solicitor to ask them to intervene when the medical team weren’t listening.”

That’s what collaboration looks like when it’s working at its best.

5. Find Your Support Network

For newer Case Managers, having peer support and supervision is invaluable. Organisations like BABICM and CMSUK provide frameworks and communities to help you think through tricky scenarios.

And don’t underestimate the value of informal support — find a friendly lawyer. Building a small network of trusted professionals you can “bounce things off” helps demystify the legal world and strengthens confidence.

As one participant put it:

“Get a lawyer buddy — someone you can call and say, I need to pick your brains.”

Final Thought

Challenging within the MDT isn’t about conflict — it’s about clarity, communication, and shared purpose.
When everyone understands their role and respects one another’s expertise, the team can handle difficult conversations without losing trust or focus.

So next time you feel your clinical voice being sidelined, take a breath, bring your evidence, and remember: you’re not there to defer — you’re there to lead alongside.

 At Healthy You, our focus is on helping case managers thrive in demanding roles. Through training, supervision, and peer forums, we create spaces where you can build resilience, share experiences, and strengthen practice. If you’d like to explore these themes further, or simply hear how other case managers are approaching their work, join one of our free Case Manager Confidential sessions — a confidential forum designed to offer both support and practical insight.

For details, contact sarahsawyer@healthyyoultd.co.uk