LOOKING FOR A SOLICITORThe Law SocietyThe Law Society is the professional body for solicitors in the UK. The Law Society of England and Wales website includes a database of 80,000 member solicitors, searchable by name, firm, specialisation, location and languages spoken. The results that come up are not recommendations, but a selection chosen to suit your stated requirements. The site has a good section on ‘Getting the Most from Your Solicitor’, incorporating tips on choosing the right solicitor and a valuable checklist for your first meeting; the information is general and can be useful wherever you live. The Law Society of Scotland site has a list of more than 8,000 member solicitors, which you can search by name, firm or specialist subject. The site has an excellent ‘Dial-a-law’ information and referral service, covering more than 40 subjects and linking to lists of local lawyers who specialise in each one. See their ‘Using the Services of a Solicitor’ section or download the ‘Getting the Best from your Solicitor’ booklet for advice (you will need Adobe Acrobat reader tothe latter, which you can download for free). The Law Society of Northern Ireland has a search facility for solicitors across the province with a focus on lawyers who take legal aid work. You can also get referrals over the telephone by calling the Law Society Records’ Department in England and Wales ) or in Scotland ). You will be provided with the details of three solicitors for any one call. This service is not available in Northern Ireland, but if you telephone , the Law Society there can send you a directory of solicitors practicing across the province. The Solicitors Family Law AssociationThe Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA) comprises more than 5000 professionals who specialise in family law. Members of the SFLA follow a code of practice devised to help parties reach settlements in a conciliatory manner, rather than through aggressive legal action. To find an SFLA-affiliated solicitor, contact the SFLA on the address/telephone number below, or look in your Yellow Pages under ‘Solicitors’ for a box containing SFLA solicitors in your area. Citizens Advice BureauxYour local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can also give you lists of local solicitors. Some have arranged with the CAB to give the first interview free of charge. LEGAL AIDIf you need advice on a legal matter and cannot afford a solicitor, you may be entitled to financial assistance. Legal Aid is available subject to a financial means assessment. You may only be entitled to a contribution to your legal fees, but the remaining amount may often be repaid over a period of time. In the UK, legal aid is managed by the Legal Services Commission in England and Wales, by the Scottish Legal Aid Board in Scotland and by the Northern Ireland Legal Aid Department in Northern Ireland. The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) provides representation for children and for adults under legal disability in County Court or High Court proceedings in England and Wales. It is a publicly funded body and the service does not incur a charge. The court appoints a CAFCASS solicitor or a case is referred to the CAFCASS by another solicitor. COMPLAINING ABOUT A SOLICITORIf you are unhappy with the service you have received from a solicitor, it is advisable that you contact the Law Society to register an official complaint. The Office for the Supervision of Solicitors, which is part of the Law Society of England and Wales, deals with complaints about solicitors and regulates their work. Despite funding the OSS, the Law Society is not permitted to get involved with any individual cases. If the inquiry made by the OSS is not satisfactory, then you can contact the Legal Services Ombudsman, an independent organisation that handles complaints about solicitors, barristers, licensed conveyancers and legal executives. Contact details are listed below. Complaints to the Scottish Law Society are directed to its Client Relations Department, details of which are below. The society publishes a leaflet on its website entitled ‘Dissatisfied With Your Solicitor’, which you can find through the ‘Using the Services of a Solicitor’ pages. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this, which is free to download. You can also fill out an online complaints form. You can put complaints to the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman if you feel the response from the Client Relations Department of the Law Society is not satisfactory. It is not possible to complain about a solicitor on the Northern Ireland Law Society website. Complaints have to be made in writing. You can telephone for an official complaints form. LEGAL ADVICE AND INFORMATIONThe Government has set up the Community Legal Service to help people find legal advice through a network of local outlets; these may include Citizens’ Advice Bureaux, law centres and libraries. Their site has a UK directory of over 15,000 legal service providers searchable by postcode, as well as a database of sources categorised by type of law (Housing, Family, Consumer Law etc.). The Children’s Legal Centre is a national charity, based at Essex University, offering free advice on all aspects of law affecting children and young people. The Children's Law Centre is a Northern Ireland-based charity working with children, organisations and agencies committed to realising children’s rights. They have a service offering advice on children’s rights and the law, and publish material written by young people and experts. The CompactLaw, FreeLawyer, Family Solicitors UK and Desktop Lawyer sites provide online legal information on a broad range of subjects. Delia Venables runs a legal resources portal that includes a list of legal firms willing to provide free initial advice by e-mail. The Law Gazette, a publication produced by the Law Society of England and Wales for solicitors, is a useful source of information, with news and features on the latest developments in UK law and a searchable archive. CONTACT DETAILSEngland & WalesThe Law Society of England and Wales
113 Chancery Lane
London WC2A 1PL
Telephone:
E-mail: info.services SFLA
P.O. Box 302
Orpington
Kent BR6 8QX
Telephone: / or write with a stamped addressed envelope
E-mail: sfla Legal Services Commission
85 Gray's Inn Road
London WC1X 8TX
Telephone:
Fax: Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS)
6th Floor
16 Palace Street
London
SW1E 5LX
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail: cafcass Office for the Supervision of Solicitors
Victoria Court
8 Dormer Place
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire CV32 5AE
Telephone: /3
Fax: Legal Services Ombudsman
22 Oxford Court
Oxford Street
Manchester M2 3WQ
Telephone: (or )
Fax: ,
E-mail: mailto:olso The Children’s Legal Centre
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
Essex C04 3SQ
Advice line: (Mon to Fri 10am-12:30 and 14:00-16:30pm)
Fax:
E-mail: clc ScotlandThe Law Society of Scotland
26 Drumsheugh Gardens
Edinburgh EH3 7YR
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail: lawscot Scottish Legal Aid Board
44 Drumsheugh Gardens
Edinburgh EH3 7SW
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail: general Client Relations Office
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail: cro Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman
17 Waterloo Place
Edinburgh EH1 3DL
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail: ombudsman Northern IrelandThe Law Society of Northern Ireland
Law Society House
98 Victoria Street
Belfast BT1 3JZ
Northern Ireland
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail: info The Law Society of Northern Ireland
Legal Aid Department
3rd Floor
Bedford House
16-22 Bedford Street
Belfast BT2 7FL
Northern Ireland
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail: mail The Children's Law Centre
3rd Floor
Philip House
123-137 York Street
Belfast BT15 1AB
Telephone:
Fax: .
Advice line: Mon 3-5pm (children and young people only) or Tue & Thurs 10am-1pm (to all).
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