Is there a "Trip Advisor" type of thing for solicitors?

spaniel-lover

I am buying a house & need a conveyancing solicitor. Before I instruct a solicitor I would like to see reviews - I want to know what past clients have to say about them. I did contact the Law Society - awaiting a reply. How am I supposed to know whether or not a solicitor has a good reputation?

1616six

spaniel-lover said:

How am I supposed to know whether or not a solicitor has a good reputation?

We are FTB and had the same issue, huge pressure from the EA to use their in house recommended one which put me off. The big online ones seem to be quantity over quality so reviews are terrible. 

We asked friends and family along with our mortgage advisor for some recommendations. Checked a few out and went with a highstreet one in the next town. Has cost around £400 more but I have a direct number and email for our lady who goes above and beyond for us… haven’t completed yet but so far so good and no regrets choosing them!

Northernmonkey99

The main issue I found is that solicitors’ reputation seems to be heavily influenced by their case load. So a review from say 6months ago may or may not be relevant now. 

The only constant Ive found is to steer clear of the cheap online conveyancers. 

Tiglet2

Google some solicitors close to your address and then look at their Trustpilot reviews.  Bear in mind that a lot of people leave reviews when they are unhappy with the service and have a gripe they want to share.  People who are happy with the service their solicitor gave them don't always bother to leave a review.

diystarter7

Some specialise in certain areas.
Look out for the well-established one's often in your town centre or near it. Most will have experience with property, then look up if there are any reviews.
Thanks

london21

I use google reviews check and gives a good idea what type of firm the solicitor is. 

SadieO

We asked friends and colleagues and went with a local firm that a few different people recommended. As with most things, word of mouth recommendations are usually the best.

user1977

Tiglet2 said:

Bear in mind that a lot of people leave reviews when they are unhappy with the service and have a gripe they want to share.

And if a firm which does any sort of contentious work, the reviews are often skewed by aggrieved opposite parties, complaining that the firm had the audacity to accept instructions to sue them...

(or indeed just other parties in conveyancing transactions)

On the flip side, I have heard of law firms posting fake positive reviews to help bump up the average score...

propertyrental

I'm a great believer in meeting them. Local high street, go in, see what response you get. You'll certainly get a 'vibe' even if you can't speak to the conveyancer. And there are other advantages to a local office you can pop in to too.

Smaller firms where you get dealt with by a solicitor/partner, rather than some admin assistant with a solicitor overseeing god knows how many tend to go the extra mile, though beware not all small firms are on all lenders' panels Also look on Law Society for firms that have conveyancing quality accreditation.

SadieO

propertyrental said:

I'm a great believer in meeting them. Local high street, go in, see what response you get. You'll certainly get a 'vibe' even if you can't speak to the conveyancer. And there are other advantages to a local office you can pop in to too.

Smaller firms where you get dealt with by a solicitor/partner, rather than some admin assistant with a solicitor overseeing god knows how many tend to go the extra mile, though beware not all small firms are on all lenders' panels Also look on Law Society for firms that have conveyancing quality accreditation.

I agree. One of things I like about ours is that the office is near enough that we've hand delivered stuff back to them that they sent us to sign - sometimes about an hour after we got it in the post!

TBagpuss

The best option is to have a recommnedation from friends or family, if possible.

If not, try calling a few and see how heful they are, whether you get a response if you as for a quote etc. If you call or call in you probably won't get to speak to the conveyanciner then and there as they tend to be pretty busy, but see how helpful the receptionist is, whether you then gte a call back or e-mail if you have asked for a quote etc.

Thinghs like trust pilt tend to exclude smaller firms. There are some online 'comparison' services but as far as I am aware they charge solicitors to be included so many won't be, those that are are more likely to be the bigger conveyancing factory / coop law type outfits. 

Don't give oin to pressure from the agents - getns can sometimes give good recommendations as they know the trnasaction goes more moothly if both parties have a competent lawyer, but if they are pressuring you then that if often a sign that theyget a  commission or referral fee, rather than that they really think the firm is the best.