Choosing a lawyer
Lawyers are regulated in almost every country, so you can check the person you hire. What varies is how they charge and how much of the work they will do themselves.
Check the register
Lawyers are admitted and regulated by a professional body. In England and Wales, solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which keeps a public register. In the United States, lawyers are licensed by each state, usually through the state bar. In Canada, provincial law societies keep registers. Confirm that the lawyer is admitted where your matter will be dealt with.
Find the right specialism
Property, immigration, employment, family and commercial law are separate fields. Ask how many matters like yours the lawyer has handled recently.
Understand the fee
- Hourly rates: ask for an estimate and to be told before it is exceeded.
- Fixed fees: common for standard work such as conveyancing or a visa application. Check what is excluded.
- Contingency or conditional fees: the lawyer is paid only if you win. These are allowed for some kinds of case in some countries and banned in others.
Ask about disbursements, such as court fees, search fees and translation, which are usually charged on top.
The engagement letter
Before work starts, you should receive a letter or agreement setting out the scope, the fee basis, who will do the work and how to complain. Read it, and ask about anything you do not understand.
Conflicts of interest
A lawyer should not act for both sides where their interests differ. In a property purchase, for example, use a lawyer who is independent of the seller and the agent.
If something goes wrong
Raise it with the firm first, using its complaints procedure. If that fails, go to the regulator or ombudsman. In England and Wales, the Legal Ombudsman deals with service complaints about lawyers.