Your lawyer
Important questions to ask when instructing your lawyer:
The background of the lawyers
What is the background of the lawyers? What cases have the lawyers won, and what are the overall details? How long have the lawyers been practicing law?
How you can help your lawyers with the case
It will help both the direction and smoothness of the case if you can participate actively in your case. When you hire the lawyers, you should find out just how much participation is possible.
Your lawyers should not make any major decisions without your permission. Check to see that your lawyer seems willing and able to explain the case to you and answers your questions clearly and completely.
Asking lawyers about the possible outcomes of the case
Ask but be careful with lawyers that guarantee big settlements or a win in court. Ask for the lawyers opinion of your case and its strengths and weaknesses.
You need to understand whether the lawyers are most likely to settle the case out of court or via a trial? And understand what the benefits are to a settlement, compared to the risks and pitfalls.
Complaining about your lawyers
Most law firms will have a partner whose job it is to handle complaints but, if not, then contact the firm’s senior partner. You can go in person using a resolution form supplied by the Consumer Complaints Service (call 0845 608 6565), the Citizens Advice Bureau (www.citizensadvice.org.uk), or use one issued by the firm itself.
If you decide to do it in person or on the phone, be sure to make notes on what was said and always ask your lawyer to confirm in writing what they intend to do about your complaint and by when.
If, after everything, you still feel you received a bad service, contact the Consumer Complaints Service (CSS) at the Law Society (call 0845 608 6565). You need to do this within six months of the end of the work that the lawyer did for you.
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