Throughout an average life, there are a number of legal scenarios where one might require the use of a solicitor. Overall, the job of a solicitor is to instruct a barrister on your behalf to represent you in court. There are a number of different fields where solicitors specialize in, and when you got to a law firm for advice you will assigned a solicitor depending on your case.
For many people, their first port of call may be the Citizens Advice Bureau, and while they can settle a number of smaller issues, they’re not equipped to tackle bigger cases and will generally point you in the direction of a local legal advisor. For example, HRJ Foreman Laws are solicitors in Welwyn Garden City that specialize with a multiple of different legal cases all the time, and they have been in the legal industry for over 300 years.
Legal Issues
Among the most common situations that require a solicitor are divorce, wills, probate and even the buying or selling of a house or property. Where possible, your solicitor will do everything possible to try and settle the case outside of court, not only is this expensive, it can also be very time consuming and a lot of hard work. Conveyancing and property issues are usually quite straight forward, but you’ll always need an expert on hand as you won’t be familiar with the process.
Initial Appointment
Once you have your chosen solicitor, you will need to make an appointment for your initial appointment where you’ll be able brief them about the legal situation you need help with. Remember that based on your solicitor’s experience they are likely to be in high demand which is an appointment is vital to avoid disappointment. You should take all necessary paperwork with you that pertain to the situation, along with any questions you may want to ask, in case you forget during the meeting. You may also need to provide a passport or driving license as proof of identity.
Your Rights
When you first meet your solicitor they will always treat you fairly and give you all the necessary information that you will need about their services and how they will handle your legal dispute. They should talk you through every aspect of the process and make you aware of all options that are available to you along the way. Make sure you fully understand everything before you leave the office, and don’t be afraid to ask any questions, after all, legal matters can be quite complicated and nobody expects you to be fully knowledgeable.
Issues
If for any reason, you are unhappy with the services you’ve received from your solicitor, at any point, you have the right to stop using them, at any time you like, and find a different one. They will always be professional and respect your decision to move on, you’ll just need to ask for your paperwork to be returned, and you’ll be require to pay for any work they’ve already undertaken. All genuine legal firms are governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which operates similarly to the ombudsman does for banks. You can use the SRA to check the authenticity of your solicitor, as well as any enquiries or issues you may have.
