How to Find your Legal Expert: Part 8 – Litigation Lawyer

In this edition of our How to Find your Legal Expert series, we will look at the best practices and top tips to consider when searching for the right lawyer to resolve your legal dispute.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution are formal processes in which legal disputes are resolved. They are fundamental aspects of the legal system, each serving a unique purpose in resolving conflicts. Litigation offers a formal and legally binding process for resolving disputes, while dispute resolution methods provide more flexible, efficient, and cost-effective alternatives.

1. Recommendations – Ask friends or family if they have recently used a lawyer or law firm for a legal matter. Were they happy with the advice and service that they received from the lawyer? Would they recommend them?
2. Website – Try a simple Google search and see if any solicitors/lawyers near you offer Litigation and Dispute resolution services. Just because they appear first on the search list, may not mean that they are the best or the right ones for you, so do a bit more research. Look at a few websites and read their history and background.
3. Google Reviews – It can be very useful to read the Google reviews for a law firm to get an indication of what clients have to say about their experience with them. They often provide an overall opinion about the firm.
4. Legal Jargon – Litigation and Dispute Resolution can be confusing, so having an expert who will break down the legal terminology into plain English will help make the process a lot simpler. You can view our dedicated glossary here.
5. Fee Transparency – Firms providing fee transparency is a good sign, the basic price should be communicated to you, and you should ask if there are any hidden costs so that there won’t be any surprises when it comes time to paying the bill.
6. Comparing Costs – Choosing a firm just because it is the cheapest, can have consequences. You may not receive a quality service; lawyers may not be regulated, and they may not be insured. We recommend you do your homework first.
7. Initial Consultation – Most firms offer a consultation that allows you to discuss what you need from the expert before you commit. It is important that you get a good feel for the expert you use.
8. Legal bodies and accreditations – check that the firm you are considering has all the necessary qualifications and accreditations to carry out the work.

As well as best practices and top tips, there are also certain legal bodies that you should look out for regarding the regulation of the firm and individual qualifications. Identifying these helps ensure that you are being provided with the right service and top-quality professional help.

SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) – the SRA logo and a registered number should easily be seen on the firm’s website and linked to a page that states the website has been verified by the SRA. This means that:

• everyone who works for the firm must meet the high standards the SRA set.
• this firm must have the right level of insurance to protect you in case something goes wrong.

you may be able to claim through the SRA Compensation Fund to have your money reimbursed if this firm or a solicitor working for it loses your money you can complain to the SRA if you are concerned about the behaviour of this firm.

• If you split up from your partner and there was not an agreement in place regarding how the money in a joint house should be split, a litigation lawyer can guide you through the process of obtaining a fair amount from the house, to make sure you are not left with less than you are entitled to.
• There are strict limitation dates for issuing an inheritance claim, and if the timeframes are missed you will not be able to bring a claim.
• It is important to take advice when signing a settlement agreement or consent order, whether it is an inheritance dispute or a dispute regarding property, as you must ensure that you understand what you are signing, what claims you are waiving your rights to, and whether you are receiving a fair resolution. If you do not take advice, you may receive an unfair resolution, and you may be waiving claims that you did not intend to waive.
• When preparing an eviction notice, it is important that the correct amount of notice is provided to the tenant, and the correct documents are sent with the notices. If these are not correct, any claims in Court will be struck out so a lawyer can prepare these notices for you to give you the best possible chance of obtaining a possession order for your property.
• There are significant Court delays at the moment, so it can be frustrating for all parties. A litigation lawyer can guide you through the Court process, but also help you to resolve the matter outside of Court if possible.
• If the claim has been started yourself, but it is incorrect, it is more difficult to rectify the issues once it has been issued as this will require applications to be made incurring additional costs. A litigation lawyer can guide you through the process and ensure that the claim paperwork gives you the best chance of success through Court.

If you require assistance regarding litigation or dispute resolution, get in touch with our expert Litigation team to talk about your options.

Coming Soon – How to Find your Legal Expert – Part 9 – Commercial Property Lawyer

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Email:     info@backhouse-solicitors.co.uk
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