Trust Inheritance Will Writing Service

localhero

KoreArabin wrote:

If by "high street solicitors" you mean sole practitioners (a dying breed nowadays) then I'd agree that they're probably not STEP qualified. However, I am referring to specialist private client solicitors, most of whom are members of STEP.

No, high street solicitors does not mean sole practitioners. It's also the place where most people go for their Wills.

STEP qualified solicitors are few and far between and tend to be `niche` firms.

I don't even know what point you are trying to make here and can see no merits in continuing this fruitless discussion with you.

wise_fool

KoreArabin wrote: »

I think you'll find that most solicitors who undertake will-related work are members of STEP

Never argue with an idiot local hero, as you will never win - they will just drag you down to their level. Anyone who believes that most solicitors who undertake will related work are STEP qualified is quite clearly talking nonsense.

I happen to work in the legal profession and the simple fact of the matter is that anyone can call themselves a will writer. Most of whom are unqualified and unregulated and best avoided. But there are also a good number of solicitors practising in this area that are woefully incompetent. Just reading a few threads on here would confirm that.

STEP, Solicitors For the Elderly and the Institute of Professional Willwriters are highly regarded. Any other so-called professional I would give a miss for a will. Everyone in the profession knows that solicitors regard wills as a loss leader to get their foot in the door for the highly lucrative probate work - that's why so many jump at the chance to get involved with Willaid. Solicitors don't do this out of the kindness of their hearts - it's a sound business decision.

The Legal Services Board will be looking at regulation in 2010 - the sooner the better. Personally, I fear that anyone with a professional looking badge will get the nod as a regulator and also this will do nothing to stem the flow of defective wills produced by solicitors reaching the probate office. Let's not forget that the fastest growing area for negligence claims against solicitors is for defective wills.

The whole wills and probate business is a total mess - so buyer beware.

KoreArabin

localhero wrote: »

No, high street solicitors does not mean sole practitioners. It's also the place where most people go for their Wills.

STEP qualified solicitors are few and far between and tend to be `niche` firms.

I don't even know what point you are trying to make here and can see no merits in continuing this fruitless discussion with you.

You clearly know very little about solicitors. This is not surprising, as you aren't a solicitor.

Your comment about STEP qualified solicitors being in niche firms simply confirms your lack of knowledge. Check out the STEP membership, and you will find that most solicitors who carry out private client work are members of STEP, whatever type of firm they are with.

The point I am trying to make is that years of training to be a solicitor qualifies one far more to advise on making wills than taking a single exam and then giving oneself the honorific "will writer".

KoreArabin

wise_fool wrote: »

Never argue with an idiot local hero, as you will never win - they will just drag you down to their level. Anyone who believes that most solicitors who undertake will related work are STEP qualified is quite clearly talking nonsense.

I happen to work in the legal profession and the simple fact of the matter is that anyone can call themselves a will writer. Most of whom are unqualified and unregulated and best avoided. But there are also a good number of solicitors practising in this area that are woefully incompetent. Just reading a few threads on here would confirm that.

STEP, Solicitors For the Elderly and the Institute of Professional Willwriters are highly regarded. Any other so-called professional I would give a miss for a will. Everyone in the profession knows that solicitors regard wills as a loss leader to get their foot in the door for the highly lucrative probate work - that's why so many jump at the chance to get involved with Willaid. Solicitors don't do this out of the kindness of their hearts - it's a sound business decision.

The Legal Services Board will be looking at regulation in 2010 - the sooner the better. Personally, I fear that anyone with a professional looking badge will get the nod as a regulator and also this will do nothing to stem the flow of defective wills produced by solicitors reaching the probate office. Let's not forget that the fastest growing area for negligence claims against solicitors is for defective wills.

The whole wills and probate business is a total mess - so buyer beware.

Do tell us in which area of the legal profession you work? You clearly haven't a clue about private client work, as most solicitors who undertake this work are STEP qualified.

Tell me, when you have to have medical treatment, do you go to a doctor, trained for years in medicine, or to your local first aider, who's "passed an exam"?

I'm looking forward to your answer.

localhero

KoreArabin wrote:

Tell me, when you have to have medical treatment, do you go to a doctor, trained for years in medicine, or to your local first aider, who's "passed an exam"?

Since you seem to have a fixation with first aiders I will address your question.

My GP spent around nine years qualifying as a doctor, but she would not be qualified to carry out open heart surgery - as that's a job for a specialist.

In the same way as a solicitor who has obtained a law degree and completed a training contract is not a specialist in advising upon and drawing up Wills - so I don't think your analogy helps you much.

Most solicitors that draw up wills are not specialists and nor are most will writers. Wise Fool has already given you some examples of specialists in that particular field.

If I were in the market for a Will or indeed any other professional service I would be keen to learn:

• What qualifications they have in their particular expertise
• What training they have received in their particular expertise
• What level of professional indemnity insurance they have
• Do they provide details of all their fees up front
• Whether they have an independent system of redress if anything goes wrong
• Are they working to a Code of Practice with independent approval – such as from the OFT?

I hope that helps.

localhero

KoreArabin wrote:

Your comment about STEP qualified solicitors being in niche firms simply confirms your lack of knowledge. Check out the STEP membership, and you will find that most solicitors who carry out private client work are members of STEP, whatever type of firm they are with.

As it happens I do know a thing or two about writing wills.

For what it's worth I did a search on the `find a practitioner` function on the STEP website for London and it found.....wait for it....10 practitioners. The Law Society is unable to search out `private client` firms, but a search of wills and probate firms brought up 50 firms in the city alone.

Narrowing the search further there are 10 wills and probate law firms in Chiswick - none of whom are members of STEP.

In any case this thread is about rogue willwriters, so please stop trolling and contribute to the forum when you have something worthwhile to say.

KoreArabin

localhero wrote: »

Since you seem to have a fixation with first aiders I will address your question.

My GP spent around nine years qualifying as a doctor, but she would not be qualified to carry out open heart surgery - as that's a job for a specialist.

In the same way as a solicitor who has obtained a law degree and completed a training contract is not a specialist in advising upon and drawing up Wills - so I don't think your analogy helps you much.

Most solicitors that draw up wills are not specialists and nor are most will writers. Wise Fool has already given you some examples of specialists in that particular field.

If I were in the market for a Will or indeed any other professional service I would be keen to learn:

• What qualifications they have in their particular expertise
• What training they have received in their particular expertise
• What level of professional indemnity insurance they have
• Do they provide details of all their fees up front
• Whether they have an independent system of redress if anything goes wrong
• Are they working to a Code of Practice with independent approval – such as from the OFT?

I hope that helps.

That was exactly my point. I wouldn't go to a GP for heart surgery. But - would I go for my surgery to a specialist heart surgeon, with years of medical training and a specialism in heart surgery, or to the chap next door who's just passed his *single* exam in heart surgery? And who isn't even required by a professional body to keep up to date with advances in medical care?

KoreArabin

localhero wrote: »

As it happens I do know a thing or two about writing wills.

For what it's worth I did a search on the `find a practitioner` function on the STEP website for London and it found.....wait for it....10 practitioners. The Law Society is unable to search out `private client` firms, but a search of wills and probate firms brought up 50 firms in the city alone.

Narrowing the search further there are 10 wills and probate law firms in Chiswick - none of whom are members of STEP.

In any case this thread is about rogue willwriters, so please stop trolling and contribute to the forum when you have something worthwhile to say.

Trolling? How is pointing out to forum members that a qualified solicitor, with years of training, is likely to have a little more knowledge about will writing than, for example, a resting actor who's taken a single exam?

You also appear to be oblivious to the fact that will writing does not take place in a vacuum - there are many other legal matters to take into account when writing a will, which may even require advice from other specialist lawyers. Conveyancers and family lawyers spring immediately to mind.

And your STEP search doesn't seem very good. My search gave me 16 specialists in central London alone, without searching the suburbs. And none of them were will writers...

John_Pierpoint

localhero wrote: »

For what it's worth I did a search on the `find a practitioner` function on the STEP website for London and it found.....wait for it....10 practitioners. The Law Society is unable to search out `private client` firms, but a search of wills and probate firms brought up 50 firms in the city alone.

Narrowing the search further there are 10 wills and probate law firms in Chiswick - none of whom are members of STEP.

KoreArabin wrote: »

Your STEP search doesn't seem very good. My search gave me 16 specialists in central London alone, without searching the suburbs. And none of them were will writers...

Gentlemen,
As a self educated executor, I am learning that there are lies damned lies and statistics:D
Those who have have been keeping up with my trials and tribulations over the last year, sorting out a partially intestate will, can see that I am considering the pro's and con's of setting up some sort of family trust; even though through 2006/2007 our wonderful government decided to clamp down on sensible trust arrangements..

So please can you post the links to the list(s) of STEP practitioners.

Is it the firms (LLP's) that are registered or the individual solicitors ?
I would expect the latter?!?
Would they be registered at the firm's address or their home address?
(At the eye watering hourly rate they can charge, I would expect them to live in the London Barbican or commute from some leafy outer Surrey suburb?!?)
Further insight into what is involved in maintaining the STEP qualification would be useful - perhaps a link to the syllabus they are expected to attain to become qualified?

wise_fool

KoreArabin wrote: »

Do tell us in which area of the legal profession you work? You clearly haven't a clue about private client work, as most solicitors who undertake this work are STEP qualified.

Shhhh - don't tell anyone - but I am a trainee teaboy - my first aid course is next week - I'm not expected to do very well.

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Gentlemen,
As a self educated executor, I am learning that there are lies damned lies and statistics:D
Those who have have been keeping up with my trials and tribulations over the last year, sorting out a partially intestate will, can see that I am considering the pro's and con's of setting up some sort of family trust; even though through 2006/2007 our wonderful government decided to clamp down on sensible trust arrangements..

So please can you post the links to the list(s) of STEP practitioners.

Is it the firms (LLP's) that are registered or the individual solicitors ?
I would expect the latter?!?
Would they be registered at the firm's address or their home address?
(At the eye watering hourly rate they can charge, I would expect them to live in the London Barbican or commute from some leafy outer Surrey suburb?!?)
Further insight into what is involved in maintaining the STEP qualification would be useful - perhaps a link to the syllabus they are expected to attain to become qualified?

Since I quite clearly have no idea what I'm talking about - I shall leave this one for our private client aficionado to answer....KoreArabin where are you? - here's your chance to demonstrate you're not a troll.