Nobody wants to have to use a solicitor. It’s always a challenging and stressful time, regardless of whether you're the claimant or defendant. One way that you can help yourself to minimise the stress is by choosing the right solicitor. Below, you will find five suggestions to help you choose the best solicitor for your particular situation.
1.Choose a solicitor that specialises in that particular area of law. The first thing that you need to realise is that there are different types of solicitor, and they specialise in different areas of the law. In order to find a suitable solicitor, visit The Law Society website and browse “types of solicitor”. You will be able to find out which solicitor suits your needs. For instance if you’ve been injured, you will need a personal injury specialist; if you've been unfairly dismissed, you'll need an employment solicitor.
2.If you qualify for legal aid, look for a solicitor that is prepared to work for it. If you earn below a certain amount, you might be entitled to legal aid. However, you need to choose a solicitor that offers it, because they don’t all allow you to use legal aid.
3.If the issue you have is covered by “no win no fee” law (e.g. unfair dismissal, personal injury) look for one that offers this arrangement. Certain types of claims are covered by Conditional Arrangement Fees (known colloquially as “no win no fee”). You should take advantage of this if it’s available, as it will usually vastly reduce your legal costs.
4.Consider how near their offices are. It’s always better to choose a local solicitor. So, for example, if you live in Blackburn and you're looking for a personal injury specialist, choose a personal injury Blackburn specialist. There are so many advantages to choosing someone local, including being able to get hold of them when you need them, asking other people about their reputation, and reducing your fees if they need to come out and visit you.
5.Check with The Law Society to make sure they’re a bone fide solicitor. Finally, once you have chosen a solicitor, double check with The Law Society database to make sure they are a genuine solicitor and have the right to practice law.
1.Choose a solicitor that specialises in that particular area of law. The first thing that you need to realise is that there are different types of solicitor, and they specialise in different areas of the law. In order to find a suitable solicitor, visit The Law Society website and browse “types of solicitor”. You will be able to find out which solicitor suits your needs. For instance if you’ve been injured, you will need a personal injury specialist; if you've been unfairly dismissed, you'll need an employment solicitor.
2.If you qualify for legal aid, look for a solicitor that is prepared to work for it. If you earn below a certain amount, you might be entitled to legal aid. However, you need to choose a solicitor that offers it, because they don’t all allow you to use legal aid.
3.If the issue you have is covered by “no win no fee” law (e.g. unfair dismissal, personal injury) look for one that offers this arrangement. Certain types of claims are covered by Conditional Arrangement Fees (known colloquially as “no win no fee”). You should take advantage of this if it’s available, as it will usually vastly reduce your legal costs.
4.Consider how near their offices are. It’s always better to choose a local solicitor. So, for example, if you live in Blackburn and you're looking for a personal injury specialist, choose a personal injury Blackburn specialist. There are so many advantages to choosing someone local, including being able to get hold of them when you need them, asking other people about their reputation, and reducing your fees if they need to come out and visit you.
5.Check with The Law Society to make sure they’re a bone fide solicitor. Finally, once you have chosen a solicitor, double check with The Law Society database to make sure they are a genuine solicitor and have the right to practice law.
