Solicitors — What They Can Do for You

A solicitor is a qualified legal professional who can advise people on the law, represent them in legal matters and take action on their behalf. In England and Wales, solicitors must be registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and hold a current practising certificate. The Law Society is the professional body that represents solicitors.^{[1]Law Society[4]SRA}

Solicitors often handle matters outside court, such as writing letters, drafting contracts, negotiating settlements and advising on rights. If a case goes to court, a solicitor can usually represent clients in the lower courts and will instruct a barrister for more complex hearings in the higher courts. Some solicitors now have additional rights to appear in higher courts themselves.

Solicitors deal with a wide range of legal issues. Common areas include:

• Family law — divorce, separation, child arrangements, domestic abuse injunctions, financial settlements, adoption and surrogacy.
• Housing — eviction, landlord disputes, disrepair, homelessness, possession proceedings and tenancy deposits.
• Employment — unfair dismissal, discrimination, settlement agreements, contracts, whistleblowing and redundancy.
• Immigration and asylum — visa applications, appeals, asylum claims, human rights arguments and citizenship.
• Personal injury — accidents, medical negligence, industrial disease and claims against public bodies.
• Crime — police station advice, defence in court, appeals and motoring offences.
• Mental health and capacity — detention under the Mental Health Act, Court of Protection, deputyship and powers of attorney.
• Wills, probate and trusts — drafting wills, applying for probate, estate administration, inheritance disputes and deeds of trust for shared property ownership.
• Benefits and welfare — appealing DWP decisions, tribunal representation and challenging local authority decisions.
• Consumer and contract disputes — faulty goods, services, debts and small claims.
• Education and special educational needs — EHCP appeals, disability discrimination in schools and admissions.

Many solicitors specialise in one area. The Law Society recommends choosing a solicitor with expertise in the specific type of problem you have.^{[1]Law Society}

When you instruct a solicitor, you have clear rights. The Law Society and SRA expect solicitors to:

• Treat you with respect and keep your affairs confidential.
• Explain your options in plain English without unnecessary jargon.
• Tell you the likely costs, including fees, VAT and disbursements, before you agree.
• Keep you informed about progress and respond to your enquiries promptly.
• Give you a written client care letter setting out who will handle your case, what they will do, and how you can complain.
• Protect your money if they hold it in their client account.
• Act in your best interests and follow your lawful instructions.

You can ask for an interpreter, large print, or other reasonable adjustments if you need them. If English is not your first language, you can ask a solicitor to use an interpreter or to write letters in plain language.^{[9]Law Society client care[6]GOV.UK}

Legal aid helps people who cannot afford to pay for legal advice, mediation or representation. It is available for some serious cases, but not for every type of problem. You can check whether you may qualify on GOV.UK.^[2]GOV.UK

Legal aid is generally available for problems such as:

• Family — cases involving domestic abuse, forced marriage, child abduction, care proceedings and some disputes about children.
• Housing — homelessness, eviction, serious disrepair and asylum-seeker accommodation.
• Immigration — detention, asylum, trafficking and some appeals.
• Mental health — detention under the Mental Health Act.
• Community care — challenges to local authority decisions about care and support.
• Criminal cases — advice at the police station and representation in court if you pass the means test and the interests-of-justice test.

To get civil legal aid, you must usually show that your case is within scope and that your income and savings are below the limits. You may have to pay a contribution. Criminal legal aid has a separate means test and an interests-of-justice test.^{[3]Legal Aid Agency[8]Ministry of Justice}

Even if you do not qualify for legal aid, you may still be able to get free advice from a law centre, Citizens Advice, a legal advice clinic or a pro bono scheme. Many solicitors offer a free or low-cost first meeting.^{[5]Citizens Advice}

The Law Society and SRA both provide directories to help you find a regulated solicitor. When choosing someone, consider:

• Do they specialise in the area you need?
• Are they regulated by the SRA?
• What do their reviews and complaints record look like?
• Do they offer a fixed fee, hourly rate or no-win-no-fee arrangement?
• Can you communicate easily with them?
• Do they offer interpreters, Easy Read or other adjustments?

You can search for solicitors by location, specialism and language on the Law Society's "Find a solicitor" service. The SRA also publishes a register of regulated solicitors and firms so you can check someone is genuine.^{[4]SRA[1]Law Society}

Solicitors' fees vary widely depending on the complexity of the case and where you live. Common arrangements include:

• Fixed fee — a set price for a specific piece of work, such as a will or a property purchase.
• Hourly rate — you pay for the time spent, usually billed in units of six minutes.
• Conditional fee agreement (no win, no fee) — common in personal injury; you pay nothing if you lose, but may pay a success fee if you win.
• Legal expenses insurance — some home, car or travel insurance policies include legal cover.
• Trade union or membership legal services — some unions and professional bodies offer free legal help.
• Pro bono — free help from a solicitor for people who cannot afford to pay, usually arranged through a charity or clinic.

Always ask for a clear estimate and a written explanation of how fees work. Ask what happens if the costs change.^{[9]Law Society client care}

If you are unhappy with your solicitor, you should first complain to the firm itself. Most firms have a complaints procedure and must respond within a reasonable time. If you are not satisfied with their response, you can take your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman.^{[7]Legal Ombudsman}

The Legal Ombudsman can look at issues such as delays, poor communication, lost documents, overcharging, failing to follow instructions, and breaches of confidentiality. Complaints usually need to be made within six years of the problem or within three years of discovering it.

If you believe a solicitor has acted dishonestly, breached SRA rules or committed a criminal offence, you should report them to the SRA. The SRA can investigate conduct, restrict practice or strike a solicitor off the roll.^{[6]GOV.UK[4]SRA}