How to find a solicitor

tomatta

How do you all go about finding a solicitor? What questions do you ask?

I've been thinking about gathering all the local solicitors email addresses, then emailing them outlining my situation and ask for a quote. I'm not sure what I should say though. Can anyone help draft an email?

I live in a smallish town so I can't seem to find reviews online for any local firms

Rambosmum

Things they'll need to know is your purchase price and whether you are also selling or are a FTB and whether the property is being purchased with a mortgage.

Most will then give you a quote which should include fees, land registry transfer, mortgage release etc.

I'd usually just go with the cheapest, unless they have particularly bad reviews.

Don't go with the one associated with the estate agents!

davidmcn

Unless you have a particularly unusual "situation" you don't need to give them your life story - they'll usually just want to know whether you're selling and/or buying, for what sort of price(s), maybe whether it's freehold or leasehold properties involved (if you know yet). You can just phone.

(also bear in mind that not every firm of solicitors does residential conveyancing, if you haven't already figured that out!)

kinger101

Ask friends for recommendations. Online reviews are sometimes dubious.

If you find one you like, as them if they're on the panel for whoever your lender is.

pokarekareana

Definitely ask for recommendations from friends. Also, it is worth remembering that you don't need to use a local solicitor, so even if someone recommends a firm miles away, it isn't a problem. Finally, if you have a friend or relative who is a lawyer, they may be able to give you a discount.

G_M

Forget email. Go in and visit them - local firms in the high street. You'll either feel welcome, and comfortable dicussing your requirements, and hence confident that if you have questions or issues in the future you'll be able to pop in for an explanation, or you won't. That will help you choose.

Obviously you also want quotes from each at the same time. Are the costs explained in a way you understand? That too i important.

Finally, take the various quotes home and ,ake sure they are like for like.

You are then in a position to choose.

always_sunny

G_M wrote: »

Forget email. Go in and visit them - local firms in the high street. You'll either feel welcome, and comfortable dicussing your requirements, and hence confident that if you have questions or issues in the future you'll be able to pop in for an explanation, or you won't. That will help you choose.

Obviously you also want quotes from each at the same time. Are the costs explained in a way you understand? That too i important.

Finally, take the various quotes home and ,ake sure they are like for like.

You are then in a position to choose.

And pay for their rent in the high street? Solicitors have very little need to be anywhere geographically close to the property, realistically it doesn't add any value.

G_M

always_sunny wrote: »

.... Solicitors have very little need to be anywhere geographically close to the property, realistically it doesn't add any value.

No but it can be of huge benefit if the solicitor is geographically close to the client.

Granted, when everything runs smoothly, the solicitor is efficient, speedy and professional, and the sale/purchase raises no issues, then price is all that matters.

But when the solicitor is tardy or problematic, or the purchase throws up something that is a problem or which the client simply does not understand, the advantage of neing able to go in and discuss face-face adds huge value.

This current thread is a classic example.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5590405

Either the solicitor is not understanding the client's concerns, or the client is not understanding the solicitor's explanations. Either way, face-to-face is far better than endless emails, phone calls etc

smallholdingsister

Definitely get word of mouth suggestions.
Any money saved is unlikely to be worth it if they are slow/hard to contact/incompetent.

Bear in mind most of the work will likely be done by a conveyancer who will have some legal training but not be a qualified solicitor.

EL76

Bear in mind that the solicitor must be approved by your lender /if you need mortgage /. So the easiest way to start is asking the lender for a list with their approved solicitors. Then you can either choose by nearest located or best quote.
That's how we chose ours and although they are some 400 miles away and we only communicate via email, so far they have been absolutely brilliant.

always_sunny

G_M wrote: »

No but it can be of huge benefit if the solicitor is geographically close to the client.

Granted, when everything runs smoothly, the solicitor is efficient, speedy and professional, and the sale/purchase raises no issues, then price is all that matters.

But when the solicitor is tardy or problematic, or the purchase throws up something that is a problem or which the client simply does not understand, the advantage of neing able to go in and discuss face-face adds huge value.

This current thread is a classic example.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5590405

Either the solicitor is not understanding the client's concerns, or the client is not understanding the solicitor's explanations. Either way, face-to-face is far better than endless emails, phone calls etc

Do solicitors (from both end) ever exchange or pass documents face to face? I thought it was always done remotely between them. Even the problem on the thread you posted has nothing to do with geolocation.

I found (when used my solicitor) that even reviews are not tangible evidence as how you suggest, every sale is different so until the show is on, it's all of a mystery.
I would go to https://www.moneysupermarket.com/conveyancing/ get quotes and take it from there.

If so, the first question for the OP should be, how much do they value physical contact?