How To Choose The Right Solicitor

eskbanker

Neil8419 said:

I don't really want to go into the allegations against my son.

While a desire for confidentiality is perhaps understandable, that will inevitably compromise the quality of the guidance you'll be given on here - have you (or rather he) considered Citizens Advice to discuss the matter with a view to identifying how best to proceed?

PHK

I would like to.point out this is a consumer rights forum and not somewhere to give advice about choosing a solicitor. 

born_again

PHK said:

I would like to.point out this is a consumer rights forum and not somewhere to give advice about choosing a solicitor. 

To which a dedicated legal forum such as legal beagles forum would be a better place.

Undervalued

Neil8419 said:

I am about to instruct a legal solicitor on behalf of my son.

I have never dealt with a solicitor in the past so it is something new. The prices all seem excessive but I am keen to know if anybody has any advice?

My understanding is that two regulatory bodies exist, SRA and CILEX is this correct and what are the differences?

Also solicitors seem to cover a variety of law areas and tend not to specialise in specific areas of law, am I correct with this assumption?

Any help is greatly appreciated

Is your son a minor or an adult where for some reason you have power of attorney?

If not, then you can't instruct a solicitor on his behalf. Obviously you can help and support him, both financially, morally and in other ways but the decision as to who acts for him is his and his alone.

Okell

Neil8419 said:

Its very difficult for someone with no experience. 

I have read and reviewed numerous blogs such as the below, unfortunately we don't qualify for legal aid

I don't really want to go into the allegations against my son. 

So based on the above commentary I may be better placed going with a solicitor that is CILEX registered? 

Nooo!

As you've already beeen told, CILEX is concerned with legal executives, but you - or rather your son - doesn't want a legal executive, he needs a solicitor - especially if he's had "allegations" made against him.

I've already provided you with links to both the Law Society's and the SRA's find a local solicitor sites, and suggested you ask CAB if they can recommend a suitable firm.  Apart from that nobody can give you any more helpful advice*.

You haven't answered my original question as to whether your son is a minor.  If he isn't, you can't engage a solicitor on his behalf - he has to do it himself.


*  I agree with @born_again, you could also try asking for advice on Legal Beagles  -  General Legal Issues - LegalBeagles Forum

They also have a find a solicitor function  -  JustBeagle - Welcome - but I think I'd try the other links I provided first

Arunmor

Okell said:

You haven't answered my original question as to whether your son is a minor.  If he isn't, you can't engage a solicitor on his behalf - he has to do it himself.

Sorry but that is not true.  I engaged a solicitor on behalf of my son.

Okell

Arunmor said:

Okell said:

You haven't answered my original question as to whether your son is a minor.  If he isn't, you can't engage a solicitor on his behalf - he has to do it himself.

Sorry but that is not true.  I engaged a solicitor on behalf of my son.

Assuming your son wasn't under 18, I'm very surprised... 

Did you have some sort of authority to act on his behalf, or were there circumstances that meant he was unable to act himself and you had to do it for him?

Neil8419

Has anyone any experience of using legal aid? 

born_again

Neil8419 said:

Has anyone any experience of using legal aid? 

Your best bet is to ask on legal forums, where it has better coverage. As this is not a consumer rights issue. 

Undervalued

Neil8419 said:

Has anyone any experience of using legal aid? 

Nobody is going to be able to give a useful answer to that without some idea of what this is all about!

If your son has been charged with a criminal offence then yes, free legal representation is available.

If however these "allegations" are not about a possible criminal offence but, say, something a professional body may deal with, then probably any defence would not be a legal aid matter. Is he a member of a union or a professional body?

If the "allegations" are potentially libellous, slanderous, breach of privacy etc then he (or his family / friends etc) will have to fund it themselves and possibly recoup some or all of the cost from those making the "allegations" if he wins.