Chances are, most of us will need legal help at some point in our lives. When choosing a solicitor make sure you shop around and get recommendations - it is important that you have someone who is a proven expert in their field and will be attentive, professional and efficient.
Once you have an appointment to see a solicitor, in order to get the most out of it, you will need to prepare.
See our top tips below for what to take, what to ask and what to expect.
Appoint A Genuine Specialist
Solicitors specialise in different areas - do some research and make sure you have the right one for you.
When choosing a Personal Injury Solicitor for example, you may want to check their accreditations - a Law Society Personal Injury accreditation or an APIL (the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) accreditation shows quality, competence and highly-skilled expertise.
Only people the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) approve can call themselves solicitors, you can search for solicitors on their website.
Have High Expectations
You deserve the very best attention - everything should be explained to you clearly - if you don't understand anything, don't be afraid to ask questions.
Solicitors are required to be transparent with their fees - you should be very clear on the costs involved from the beginning - being clear at the outset can help avoid confusion and complaints later down the line.
Take notes of all conversations you have with your solicitor or other employees at the firm and keep copies of all relevant paperwork.
If you feel that the service you are getting is not up to standard, raise it with your solicitor and if they don’t resolve the issue, ask to speak to someone more senior, and/or use the firm’s complaints procedure.
Be Clear About What You Want To Achieve
It will help if you have a clear idea in mind from the start of what you want to achieve. If your solicitor knows this - they will be able to guide you on realistic costs, deadlines and timeframes.
In order to make sure things run as smoothly as possible, try and be clear on how it is best to communicate and when you are most likely to be available.
It might be a good idea to take someone else with you to the meeting - it can sometimes help to have someone else to review things later with.
Give Your Solicitor All The Facts And Documents
Your solicitor should guide you on what paperwork to bring/send to them, try to do this as quickly as possible. If you have arranged a meeting, take any relevant letters or documents with you, organised so that you can find what you need.
Try to take as much information as possible as this will help your solicitor understand what has been going on.
Take proof of your address, or care of address, and some photo ID as the solicitor or adviser will need this for their file.
Don't Always Expect Favourable Advice
Solicitors should always be open and honest - and you may not always like what you hear.
Solicitors should be advising you of all possible risks, so that you can make an informed decision - if they didn't, they wouldn't be doing their job properly!
Sometimes things don't work out the way you had expected, but you can guarantee that a good solicitor will always try to get the best possible outcome for you.
Be Prepared To Be Patient - Things Take Time.
By the end of your initial meeting with a solicitor, make sure you are clear on what is going to happen next and what the next steps are going to be. If you're not sure, ask!
Be prepared to be patient - your solicitor should keep you as informed as possible each step of the way, but depending on the case and type of law, these steps can take some time.
Coles Miller is committed to delivering the highest level of service to our customers across all of our legal departments. We are proud to consistently receive 5 star reviews on Trust pilot from clients who have been happy with the service they have received.
If you have any further questions please contact out Marketing Manager Nick Balchin on 01202 338800.
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