Committed to assisting access to Legal Professionals

Quality legal information by professionals you can trust

{"bg":"","mt":"","mr":"","mb":3,"ml":"","pt":"","pr":"","pb":"","pl":"","border":"","rounded":"","rounded_size":"","shadow":""}

3 things to consider when looking for a solicitor

01.

What is a Solicitor?

A Solicitor is a professional that has been approved by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority to have passed their academic and professional training standards.

02.

Do I Need a solicitor?

You may need a Solicitor for certain reserved activities such as:

  • Buying/selling Property
  • Administering Wills
  • Representing you in court

03.

Where can I find a Solicitor?

You can contact a solicitor through a SRA regulated Law Firm, through s specific approved organisation eg. a will writing company or on a freelance basis.

Should I use Regulated Solicitors?

Regulated Law Firm

  • Insurance

    Solicitors Regulation authority set minimum insurance cover

  • Complaints

    Can complain directly to the Solicitors Regulation authority or Legal Ombudsman

  • Compensation

    Can apply to the Solicitors Regulation authority for compensation

  • Documents

    Solicitors Regulation authority can help retrieve documents from the Solicitors

Non- Regulated Organisation

  • Insurance

    No specified level of insurance

  • Complaints

    Can complain directly to the Solicitors Regulation authority or Legal Ombudsman

  • Compensation

    Can apply to the Solicitors Regulation authority for compensation

  • Documents

    Solicitors Regulation authority can help retrieve documents from the Solicitors

Freelance Solicitor non-reserved activities

  • Insurance

    No specified level of insurance

  • Complaints

    Can complain directly to the Solicitors Regulation authority or Legal Ombudsman

  • Compensation

    Can apply to the Solicitors Regulation authority for compensation

  • Documents

    Solicitors Regulation authority can help retrieve documents from the Solicitors

Not-for-Profit/ Freelance: Reserved activities

  • Insurance

    Must have adequate level of insurance

  • Complaints

    Can complain directly to the Solicitors Regulation authority or Legal Ombudsman

  • Compensation

    Can apply to the Solicitors Regulation authority for compensation

  • Documents

    Solicitors Regulation authority can help retrieve documents from the Solicitors

check to see if your Solicitor is regulated

Click the button to go to the SRA website to check their up to date list of regulated Solicitors and Firms.

Click here

3 things to consider when looking for a barrister

01.

What is a Barrister?

Barristers can help you with many legal issues, for example, by providing advice on your legal rights, drafting legal documents for you and representing you in a court or tribunal. Barristers must have a valid practising certificate issued by the Bar Standards Board. If a barrister has a practising certificate, you can be confident that they are fully qualified and they must comply with the BSB Handbook, which sets out the ethical duties of practising barristers. They will also keep their knowledge up to date.

02.

Do I Need a Barrister?

Most people tend to seek legal advice at first from a solicitor. They will work directly with you to help you resolve your legal problems. They will meet you, work out what the case is, sort out the paperwork, and communicate with others involved in your case. If the case needs to go to court, or if more specialist advice is needed, a solicitor will often instruct a barrister to offer expert advice about a specific area of the law, or to go to court and represent you.

But you can also go straight to certain barristers for help provided that they are specially registered by us to work directly for members of the public. These barristers are known as “Public Access” or “Direct Access” barristers.

03.

Where can I find a Barrister?

If you start by employing a solicitor and they decide that you will need a barrister, they will usually choose your barrister for you. Solicitors will usually have barristers they work with regularly and will know who to ask.

If you want to hire a barrister directly yourself you should make sure the are registered by the BSB.

Only barristers authorised by the BSB s to be Public Access barristers are allowed to offer their services directly to the public. This is because it requires extra training. You can search for Public Access barristers on the Bar Council’s Direct Access Portal.

Legal Ombudsman

Get up to date legal information on these Popular areas of Law

Business law

Legal information on common Business legal issues

Child Law

Legal information on common Child Law issues

Commercial Law

Legal information on common Commercial legal issues

Conveyancing

Legal information on common Conveyancing legal issues

Divorce

Legal information on common Divorce legal issues

Employment Law

Legal information on common Employment legal issues

Family Law

Legal information on common Family Law legal issues

Inheritance & Probate

Legal information on common Inheritance & Probate legal issues

SearchFor a Solicitor

Business Solicitors & Barristers
Child Law Solicitors & Barristers
Construction Solicitors & Barristers
Consulting/Business Services
Conveyancing Solicitors & Barristers
Corporate Lawyer
Crime Solicitors & Barristers
Criminal Lawyer
Divorce & Family Lawyer
Divorce & Family Solicitors & Barristers
Domestic Violence Solicitors & Barristers
Education Law Solicitors & Barristers
Elderly Law Solicitors & Barristers
Employment Solicitors & Barristers
Entertainment Law Solicitors & Barristers
Financial Services
Fraud Law Solicitors & Barristers
Housing Solicitors & Barristers
Immigration Lawyer
Immigration Solicitors & Barristers
Insurance Law Solicitors & Barristers
Intellectual Property Solicitors & Barristers
International Law Solicitors & Barristers
Labor & Employment Law
Landlord & Tenant Solicitors & Barristers
Law Firm
Legal Service
Mediation Services
Mental Health Solicitors & Barristers
Motoring Law Solicitors & Barristers
Passport & Visa Service
Personal Injury Lawyer
Personal Injury Solicitors & Barristers
Police Misconduct Solicitors & Barristers
Property Law
Property Law Solicitors & Barristers
Real Estate Lawyer
Social Services
Tax Law Solicitors & Barristers
Wills & Probate Solicitors & Barristers

LatestTweets

We Look At The Law Differently

“Equal justice under law is not merely a caption on the facade of the Supreme Court. It is perhaps the most inspiring ideal of our society. … It is fundamental that justice should be the same, in substance and availability, without regard to economic status.”
Lewis Powell Supreme Court Justice
United States
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) introduced funding cuts to legal aid, meaning fewer people can access free legal advice. Since 2012, legal aid has no longer been available for early advice, including housing and family law. Without legal aid for early advice, legal problems can escalate unnecessarily and cause issues such as poor health, debt and homelessness. As a result of escalating legal problems, a lack of early legal advice can increase taxpayer costs and the burden on the courts.
The Law Society
United Kingdom