Using a solicitor
Many people find the prospect of using a solicitor daunting. But almost everyone will need to employ the services of a solicitor at some time.
- You may be buying your first house.
- You may need a solicitor to handle the property and money of a relative who has recently died.
- You may have difficulties in your marriage.
- You may have been injured in an accident and be seeking compensation.
Until fairly recently, the same solicitor is likely to have acted for members of your family for years, handling all legal matters that came up. Nowadays, most solicitors specialise in specific areas of law. As a result, you will almost certainly need to use different solicitors for different issues. You may need to do some research to find a solicitor suitable for your needs, and you may need help to understand exactly what service you can expect from the solicitor you choose.
As well as acting in accordance with the law, solicitors must comply with a set of rules called the Solicitors' Code of Conduct. Most of the rules contain details about how solicitors should run their businesses. The first rule, Core duties, sets out the principles that govern all solicitors: Your solicitor should always act in your best interests and with integrity—advising you independently and providing you with a high standard of service.