How to Choose a Solicitor

For the vast majority of us, finding and working alongside a solicitor is a relatively rare occurrence, which means that knowing how to track down the best firm to work with doesn’t tend to come naturally.

So, whether you are seeking legal aid with an ongoing dispute, selling property, or planning on getting a divorce, here are just a few things you should keep in mind as you begin your search for a solicitor.

Seek Recommendations

Talk to people you know and trust about their own, personal recommendations. Many of us will require help from a solicitor at some stage, and reaching out to your friends and family for guidance will ensure that you can benefit from their own experience, and find someone with whom who can feel comfortable.

Look at Google Reviews and Respected Legal Directories

In addition to speaking with your friends and family, checking up on a firm via Google reviews will enable you to see plenty of sides to the story before you commit. Similarly, legal directories like The Legal 500 and Chambers have long-established a high benchmark for legal firms, so cross-referencing their sites will ensure you are making a strong choice.

Look for Specialties

If you have found a firm, take a closer look at their site and research which areas of the law they specialise in. Some firms are multi-disciplinary, while others will home in on one or two areas of the law. Both approaches have their benefit, but ensuring they have strong experience in the area that pertains to your case will ensure you are in the best hands going forward.

Consider Focusing Your Search on Local Solicitors

Working with a solicitor often (but not always) entails face-to-face appointments or, in the very least, a few trips back and forth to drop off or sign documents and provide identification.

While it may be tempting to work with a high-profile law firm in, say, London, this can often prove to be a frustrating decision when the time comes to schedule a meeting. It can be beneficial to focus your search on law firms local to your area. If you’re based in the Gloucestershire area, then searching for solicitors Cheltenham will mean that you are able to stay on top of things, without necessarily sacrificing hours to travel.

Look for a Firm You Feel Comfortable With

More often than not, legal proceedings have a habit of entangling themselves within our emotions, and disrupting every area of our lives. Going through a divorce or a significant dispute is incredibly mentally taxing, and the best way to ensure that you get through it unscathed is by working with an experienced lawyer with whom you can built a rapport.

As such, finding the right lawyer for you is more than merely looking over their credentials; trust and reassurance are equally as vital. Look at the firm’s website to get a feel for their ethos, and then see if you can talk to the lawyer on the phone – if you feel comfortable speaking with them, then this will prove invaluable to you in the coming days, weeks and months.