If you’re in a situation that requires legal attention, then it’s vital that you get the right expertise on your side. Receiving the best possible advice will equip you to make the best possible decision for your circumstances. But not all solicitors are the same, and thus it’s vital that you identify the one that’s right for you. Let’s take a look at a few of the qualities you might consider.
What Kind Of Service Do I Need?
Certain areas of law can be incredibly complex – and keeping on top of the various developments often requires a highly specialised professional. Conveyancing requires different skills than probate, for example, and thus a conveyancing solicitor who spends all of their time dealing with property transactions is going to be better equipped to deal with yours.
Consider the area of law that you’re in need of, and look for a firm that specialises there. In many cases, a single firm will be split into different departments, each of which focuses on a given area of law.
Do They Need To Be Local?
There’s a certain reassurance that comes from having face-to-face meetings with your solicitor. Face-to-face contact will allow you to accurately assess the person with whom you’re dealing, and help you understand whether you’re going to feel comfortable sharing private and sensitive information with them.
With that said, there are downsides to this approach. When you deal only with local solicitors, you are necessarily limiting the available pool of options. Moreover, your local solicitor might have overheads that aren’t felt by larger firms which do their business through the internet.
How Much Do They Charge?
Money is a huge factor in many hiring decisions. As with anything, you have to balance the quality of service you’re getting against the amount you’re putting down. In many cases, cheap lawyers are a false economy. Be wary of any deal that appears too good to be true, and don’t make your decision based solely on price.
Certain kinds of legal representative will often proceed on a no-win, no-fee basis. This means that they’re assuming the risk of your case collapsing. Here, you don’t need to worry about having to pay for court costs in the event of a loss.
Do They Have A Good Reputation?
Quality legal firms build their reputation over time. They win cases, and news of their skills spreads. They lose cases, and the opposite happens. You might be tempted to look for online reviews from strangers, but a better idea is to ask friends and family. You can be sure that the latter category of person is going to wish you well, while the former type of solicitor might have more nefarious reasons for pointing you in a given direction.
