divorce-solicitor-trap.co.uk

Good Solicitor Bad Solicitor            April Newsletter
So how do you tell who’s who?

Here are a few places you should not look:
In the telephone directory
On an advertisement board
On the back of a cereal packet

Here are a few places you should look:
Ask around for recommendations
The internet; try typing in “Resolution” – your best start point for finding a divorce solicitor
Check out their website – is it up to date? Does it address the real issues or just talk legal mumbo jumbo?
Do a Google search on the firm you choose – what does it come up with?
Do a search for the solicitor on www.lawsociety.co.uk

It makes sense that any solicitor firm that wants to make money from divorce is going to target potential divorcing customers. So avoid any blatant commercial lines.
DIVORCE SHOULD NOT BE A MARKETABLE COMMODITY
Of course, before you take the solicitor route, consider mediation. A good mediator can take the sting out of the scorpion.
BUT, if you feel that you need support, then take yourself along to the office of your intended solicitor and ask for a FREE consultation.
The tell tale signs begin to emerge.

Good Solicitor
Asks if you have tried mediation first
Explains every step of procedure clearly
Answers your questions without starting each sentence with the words: “Well, that depends…”
Offers a fixed fee and explains exactly what it covers
Confirms that he/she will put all this information in writing without charge as part of the consultation service
Will listen as well as talk

Bad Solicitor

Immediately asks how much money/assets there are to divide
Thinks that mediation is the domain of the faint hearted or the socially dysfunctional
Tells you that you should be able to get a lot more than the figure you have just mentioned
Refuses to give an estimate on the cost of procedure or becomes vague
Does not clearly inform you that divorce and financial settlement are separate procedures, requiring separate estimates and timescale evaluations.