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Top Tips on Picking The Right Solicitors

Lefevre Litigation • Mar 21, 2019
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Unless you are a practised lawyer yourself, the law, no matter its form, will never be easy to navigate. Plus, finding the right solicitor to suit you and your individual case can seem like a minefield, especially if your case is unique. Here at Lefevre Litigations, we have put together some top tips on finding and picking the right solicitor for you. Whether you are looking for a defence attorney, free legal advice or someone to help you write your will, there is simply no one size fits all when it comes to the law.

Circumstances do change, whether for the better or for the worse, this means that legal issues can be both precedented and unprecedented. From moving house to facing discrimination at work, there are many cases that are emotionally difficult; and finding the right person to lean on and uncompress all of the jargon and nitty gritty will be incredibly helpful. You shouldn’t ever be afraid to ask for help, and it's always important to know when the law can intervene and help you.

Solicitors are regulated lawyers, this means that they have to be a part of an approved firm to practise. Solicitors can offer you legal advice, help you build a claim and represent you in court. Unregulated lawyers are paralegals, mediators, and will writers. They don’t need to be approved by regulatory boards, but they may be what you need rather than a solicitor.

No matter what age you are, at some point in our lives, we will all need the help of a solicitor. And keeping yourself well informed will only help you in the long run. So, to stop you from feeling overwhelmed, have a browse below to get yourself on the right path today.


Use Online Resources like The Law Society and the SRA to find Law Firms and Defense attorneys

One of the first things to do when searching for and picking solicitors is to use resources like The Law Society and the SRA. One of the most comforting things about searching for a solicitor is you will unlikely run the risk of getting shoddy work as they will need to be approved and regulated by the boards to practise.


When searching for a solicitor on these databases, there are a variety of useful filters to help you in your legal journey:


-Where the solicitors work

-What areas of the law do they practise in

-Whether they are members of any Law Society Accreditation schemes

-Whether they accept legal aid

-Whether their offices have wheelchair access, hearing loops or sign language facilities

-Whether they are fluent in any languages other than English


The last point is especially useful for members of the public who are seeking disputes regarding international law, or if English isn’t their first language.

Plus, these websites can help you with general legal advice, giving you information about how to prepare for a first solicitors meeting and generally what to expect. Available online and in public libraries, you can access this helpful information any way you want.


Be Clear On The Legal Advice You Want And Are Searching For

Whether it is being clear with yourself, or being clear with a solicitor in the first meeting,knowing what end goal you want is paramount in a successful outcome and in having a smoother legal process.

One of the best top tips for picking the perfect lawyer for your situation is finding a lawyer that is a specialist or practises in your field. Common legal issues include:


-Buying a home

-Claiming asylum

-Claiming compensation

-Criminal law

-Cohabitation

-Divorce

-Personal injury claim

-Making a will

-Moving in together

-Probate

-Problems at work

-Renting a home

-Setting up a business

-Road traffic law


Though in their training solicitors will have superb general knowledge of all parts of the law, enlisting the help of a specialist will greatly advance proceedings. And, it is especially important if you are dealing with parts of the law that are emotionally difficult like divorce, discrimination and claiming asylum.

In order to have a productive first meeting with a solicitor - make sure you are well prepared. This can include, compiling relevant paperwork, filling out questionnaires that the attorneys have sent you, getting copies of medical records, getting copies of contracts that you are signed into i.e rental agreements and employment contracts, finding receipts of expenses, obtaining a police report, writing down memories of an incident or things that you want to cover in the meeting, writing down any questions that you have, gathering financial documents like bank statements and tax returns.


Find lawyers of the same gender, or ethnic background

Sometimes, when dealing with legal subjects that are going to be emotionally difficult, we need to take into account our human needs. As, at the end of the day, you are sat across from another person. Therefore, you need to know what will make you feel the most comfortable when discussing these issues. If you wanted to see a female or male doctor about specific health issues, then why should this be different for your solicitor.

Finding a lawyer or solicitor that shares your gender or ethnicity may be helpful in your communication, and the development of a professional relationship. First and foremost, you will want someone who you can trust.


Don’t be afraid of fees

Fees are part and parcel of hiring a solicitor. Being upfront and honest about your financial situation can only benefit you in the long run - especially as there are systems especially built and put in place to help you.

You shouldn’t feel ashamed if you feel that you are entitled to legal aid, or by asking if they offer conditional fee arrangements. Plus, you should ask if they are any extra costs so you can be aware of this in the long run. For example, paralegals and assistants may work on this case too which could incur further charges.

Finding out whether you are eligible for legal aid can be done through the GOV.UK Website. Follow this link here.

Being honest about your financial situation will help you find the right solicitor for you as some solicitors may not offer legal aid, or they may offer free advice, plus some lawyers you may not be able to afford. This all has to come into a situation when finding a lawyer that suits you.

Websites like Citizens advice offers free online advice for those who are struggling to make sense of the legal world.


Ask for Testimonials

Whether you are dealing with criminal or divorce law, it is always imperative to make sure that you have enlisted a lawyer that has a good track record. So, don’t be afraid to ask to see testimonials. This will also help you get a sense of their communication tactics if they do need to represent your case in court. Or, if you are searching for a specific lawyer, why not ask your friends and colleagues. This would be a really helpful tactic when looking for a conveyancing solicitor, business solicitor or divorce solicitor.

Finding a lawyer that can specifically help you with a unique case can also be hard to find. Even though lawyers are legally not allowed to tell you information about past or current cases, asking general questions about whether they have dealt with a case like yours before will be extremely helpful in a successful outcome.


Lefevre Litigations: Criminal Law Representation in Aberdeen

Lefevre Litigations are a team of expert solicitors that specialise in the sensitive issues surrounding criminal law, including, road traffic offences, drug-related offences, assault, theft, sexual offences and breaches of the peace.

Offering both representation and high-quality support, we can be a helping hand for those who have been accused. To get in touch and find lawyers near you, click here.

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