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.
