A solicitor in Bournemouth or anywhere else is a lawyer who can deal with a legal matter for a client even if it goes to court. In the UK, a barrister will handle matters within the High Court, but a solicitor will deal with everything else including appearances in the lower courts. Some solicitors can now handle matters in even the highest courts in the land.
People can have many reasons to retain the services of a solicitor. Some of the common ones include:
- Divorce
- Criminal matters
- Insolvency
- Employment disputes
- Personal Injury
Training
A client expects their solicitor to give them expert legal advice, whether it is to defend them from proceedings or to take action against someone else. To get to this level, a lawyer must first complete a qualifying law degree, then enrol with the Law Society as a student member, and take the Legal Practice Course. After this, a prospective solicitor will then spend two years as an apprentice with a firm that is entitled to take trainee solicitors.
Even without a law degree, it is still possible to become a solicitor by taking a conversion course with a qualifying degree. Alternatively, it is possible to become a member of the Institute of Legal Executives and gaining practical experience before taking the Legal Practice Course.
Specialists
Once qualified, a solicitor will normally specialise and gain experience in one area of the law. This means that most solicitors have a great knowledge of their area of the law, but could struggle if asked to represent somebody on a case that is outside of their expertise. Always try to find a solicitor who normally works in a similar field to your legal requirements.
Finding a Solicitor
If you need legal representation, start by getting recommendations from your peers who have used a solicitor for a similar piece of work. If you want advice on a divorce, then a good divorce specialist will be a lot better placed to help you than an injury lawyer or a defence lawyer.
Another option is to approach a large law firm and ask to speak to their specialist in your area of concern. You might have to pay more for the privilege, but you will get access to more resources than a small practice can offer.
Paying for a Solicitor
The cost of hiring a solicitor can soon add up, but there are some ways to help with these costs. If you are on a low income, you might qualify for Legal Aid, which can pay some, or even all, of your legal costs.
Another great way to help with your legal costs is “no win, no fee”, where you do not pay anything upfront and when you win your case the fees are paid for by the losing party. If you lose your case, you might still have to pay some fees, but not the total amount. Usually a solicitor will only take on your case on this basis if there is a good chance of winning with it.
If you have a legal problem and live in the Dorset area then a solicitor in Bournemouth is the best person to resolve it for you. Their professional approach and legal knowledge can really help you out.