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Where to look for a good solicitor???

Hello

We're in the process of putting an offer in on a house and require a solicitor....where should we look, are there any good sites that recommend good solicitors??

Any help would be great!

Comments

  • Gwhiz
    Gwhiz Posts: 2,322 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Personal recommendation every time. Asks friends, family, work colleagues etc
  • Agree with personal recommendations, just make sure it's someone they have actually used for conveyancing though, and not just Aunty Sue's friend from church, etc. Also if they recommend a firm, try and get the name of the specific person they used.
    We had a few recommendations and chose someone based near to our places of work. She is a longtime friend of our friend's family and has conveyanced 2 purchases/sales for her. We are very glad we went local as it eliminates us having to post things to her, and wait for her to post things to us. Was very useful during the post strikes, and if you are on a tight deadline for moving. Of course you are still waiting on other people to post things around, but it's better than nothing...
  • I used Beaumont Legal (https://www.beaumont-legal.co.uk) which was a referral through AbodeConveyancing.co.uk. I have no time to visit actually offices, so Abode/Beaumont were ideal. They do send some documents for signing by post, but most can be done electronically which I much prefer as I can get things moving much quicker to reduce delays during the transaction. From offer to exchange took us about 6 weeks without chains being involved. They work off a no sale no fee policy, up to 3 failed transactions. I think most will do 1 or 2 failed sales at the most on their no-sale no-fee, and it was competitively priced at £300+VAT, but I know it can much less on-line.

    Good luck.
  • timmyt
    timmyt Posts: 1,628 Forumite
    Try reading :

    the law society gazette dot com which currently has a blog about slow conveyancers and factors to take account of


    Make sure you use a solicitor, as anything advertised on the internet with price being the lead in will usually not have solicitors but headset clerks involved. Be warned.

    Go to the local independet estate agents in the town and see what they say. If they refer you otuside tthe county to anything other than a law firm then again be warned.

    With conveyancing you get what you pay for. Fact.

    If you want a cheap price then corners will be cut.

    Demand a solicitor, or senior legal executive of over 20 years. Demand a direct dial number and personal email address. Ignore openings at weekends, as all layers transact during the week, so that ploy is a con. Or in the evnings after 6pm.

    Make sure they will be sending you a nice bound written summary of the legal papers for the property you are going to buy.

    Do not pay anything for them acting for a lender, or filling in a stamp duty form.

    Avoid law firms attached to national estate agents.
    My posts are just my opinions and are not offered as legal advice - though I consider them darn fine opinions none the less.:cool2:

    My bad spelling...well I rush type these opinions on my own time, so sorry, but they are free.:o
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Read this.
    Personally I'd use a local one I can visit. If things go slow, go wrong, or you just don't understand, you can't beat dropping in for a chat. Helps with quick signing of forms too - no postal delays.
  • I was on the same situation as yourself just a few days ago. I saw an online solicitor co.(movingahead) mentioned on these forums and asked around in work.
    As it happened, one of my colleagues used them 1-2 years ago and was very happy with the service, although the price does not look the cheapest. I have instructed them last night.
  • timmyt
    timmyt Posts: 1,628 Forumite
    oli-ro

    don't use internet ones...sounds as though you are too late for good legal service from a local lawyer...oh well
    My posts are just my opinions and are not offered as legal advice - though I consider them darn fine opinions none the less.:cool2:

    My bad spelling...well I rush type these opinions on my own time, so sorry, but they are free.:o
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