Top 10 Solicitor Consumer Tips

• Ask for an estimated cost
Most people have no idea about the likely costs of using a solicitor whether it’s for conveyancing or dealing with a divorce. Solicitors are obliged to give you an estimate of costs involved if you ask for them and doing this will help you avoid any financial surprises at a later date.
• Choose a solicitor with suitable experience
There are many solicitors that deal with specialist areas and you may be better served by choosing someone with relevant expertise and experience in the area you need legal help with.
• Ask about legal aid
If you’re on a limited income you could be eligible for legal aid to help you pay all or some of the costs of hiring a solicitor. You’ll need to check that you’re eligible for legal aid and find a solicitor that provides it.
• Free initial appointments
Depending on what you need a solicitor for you could be dealing with them for months or maybe even years. Therefore it’s important to meet potential solicitors in person if they provide a free initial meeting so you can assess what type of person they are and whether or not you want them to act on your behalf.
• Don’t rely solely on recommendations
While getting solicitor recommendations from family and friends is a good starting point, you shouldn’t rely on these completely to make your decision as they may have used a particular solicitor for a completely different purpose than yours.
• Treat price as just one factor
While you’ll naturally want to keep costs as low as possible when choosing a solicitor, if you get a few quotes and one seems too good to be true then beware that it probably is. A professional and experienced solicitor can be worth their weight in gold so it’s usually best to consider things other than just price when making your decision.
• Communicate regularly
No matter what you’re using the services of a solicitor for it’s a good idea to keep in regular contact with them for progress reports. You shouldn’t ever be made to feel that you’re being a nuisance by asking what’s going on, remember that you are paying the solicitor to act on your behalf.
• Choose a solicitor near your home or work
If possible it’s best to find a solicitor that meets all your criteria locally, either near your home or place of work. You may have to drop off paperwork or go in for meetings from time to time so you don’t want to be travelling long distances in your lunch break or after work.
• Interview your solicitor
If you’ve arranged a free initial meeting with a local solicitor it’s important to make use of the time to ask them lots of questions rather than just answering theirs. If you don’t like the answers they give or you feel they’re not really interested in helping then don’t be afraid to choose another firm.
• What to do if you’re unhappy
If you’re dissatisfied with the service you’re receiving from your solicitor your first point of call should be to discuss it with them directly to see if you can resolve the issue. If a direct approach fails and you want to make a formal complaint, you can contact the Law Society for more information on how to go about it.