Solicitors From Hell taken down
If you have been looking for a solicitor within the UK then there is a good chance you have came across, seen or heard about the website called ‘Solicitors from Hell’.
The site was a ‘name and shame’ site for solicitors that are not very good so it does have some similarity to our site. There are some big differences though between our site and theirs.
We list all comments both good and bad and we also do not charge any money if a Solicitors wanted to remove a comment or even the business listing on our site.
Solicitors From Hell was never going to be here for the long run, the biggest problem Solicitors from Hell and Solicit A Lawyer have is the fact of proving (or disproving) the comments which are placed on the site. If a negative review was posted on either sites and backed up with evidence i.e e-mails / copies of letters then the comments can be proven to be real.
However many of the comments are made by people not providing evidence, using real names / address or just simply not wanting their real information online for everyone to see which they causes the problem of being able to prove the comments is not actually false.
For sites like ours to carry on and to offer real independent reviews of solicitors in the UK we will need people to be more honest with reviews, rather than just posting how bad they have been treated or how bad the service was they will need to start posting evidence as well which will further backup the claim made.
Why you Need a Divorce Solicitor
Divorce is a messy business. Everyone thinks that theirs is the marriage that will last forever; they’ll stay happy for good, and love each other until the end of their days. While it’s not at all impossible for this to be achieved, it’s rare, and a lot of the time, in fact most of the time, it ends in divorce. Like I said, a messy business.
However, it marriage can end in a lot less messy way, by the simple hiring of divorce solicitors. Now you might be wondering why a divorce lawyer could be so helpful, and this is what this article is going to explain. We’ll go through all the benefits that a divorce lawyer could bring to your life while you’re going through that tough spot in life.
Let’s begin.
Benefit number one: The comfort and ease a divorce lawyer brings to the table
What this means is, when you’re divorcing from your partner, there might be anger, resentment or a number of other negative emotions between you. Having a divorce lawyer there to help discuss splitting of assets and properties, and to smooth things over so that the divorce can be done and dusted as quickly as possible, is a very helpful point, and one that could make the difference between you having a relatively happy divorce, or one that simply makes you want to pull your darn hair out.
Benefit number two: The simplicity of using a divorce lawyer
Put simply, you’ll get what you want from a divorce easier using a divorce lawyer than you would without one, on the whole. I doubt anyone secretly wishes for a bloody conflict between them and their ex, but using a divorce lawyer can avoid that, and ensure you get what you’re after from the divorce. However, keep in mind a lawyer can only do so much; they can’t work miracles, as we wish they would, so ensure what you’re asking for from the divorce is fair on both sides.
Benefit number three: Fairness/Equality
Sometimes, people try to settle a divorce themselves. A lot of the time, this usually works out pretty well, especially if they leave each other on good terms. However, more often than not, it ends badly; this is where a divorce lawyer comes in. They ensure that you’re not left in the dust, with nothing but sand in your hands. What this means is, they make sure you get what you deserve. Many a time have I heard of couples getting divorced only for one side ending up with a lot less or even left with nothing after it. A good divorce lawyer will always make sure that you end up with what you’re owed out of the divorce; otherwise, they’re not a very good divorce lawyer!
Benefit number four: Sharing the burden
While a divorce lawyer isn’t likely to be your best friend, it does help to have someone there to help shoulder the burden. Losing the one you love in a messy way can be very taxing on you, and can send your stress levels through the roof. Having someone there when facing your ex, and discussing further arrangements can be a real load off of your mind.
Also, having someone there to sort through the paperwork involved in a divorce is incredibly helpful. After all when you consider that you’re splitting your house, the care of your children, etc, there can be a lot of law and paperwork involved. Having a divorce lawyer there, to take care of and read through the paperwork fully, and make sure that nothing is amiss, is a great helping hand.
Benefit number five: Court appearances made easier
If it comes to court, it can get heated and messy very quickly. A judge or court values having a lawyer there a lot, since they can convey the message from your side quickly, easily and efficiently. After all, that’s what they’ve been training for! It really helps to have someone there who knows what they’re doing, and if they have any experience in a court, or with the judge in session, then they might even know how to swing the case in your favour, perhaps getting you more alimony, child custody etc.
Some things to bear in mind when divorcing
Your children
At the end of the day, your children are the main victims of your divorce. Their well being and safety should be the top priority when settling a divorce. An extended legal battle between you and your partner isn’t going to do them any favours. Try and keep the divorce short and sweet, making sure that your children are at the top of the list and at the front of your mind when divorcing. Your children’s happiness should be your primary concern; don’t make them suffer because of a fight between you and your ex partner.
Your money
Put simply, the less fighting you do the less money it will cost. Hiring a divorce solicitor costs money, money that you may not actually have. Going to court also costs money. Keeping the divorce proceedings amiable, and keeping it simple may be the best way to go. If you and your partner left on good terms, then it’s much easier for you two to both sit down and work out agreements in regards to splitting up, splitting properties etc, and splitting the amount of time each parent sees their children, if you have any.
Keeping the whole process nice and easy means that neither of you end up having to pay a great deal of money when it comes to it, meaning more relief and less stress for the both of you!
That should be all you need to know about how a divorce lawyer could help you settle things between you and your ex comfortably; now all you have to do, should you need one, is go out there and find a good divorce lawyer!
Property Solicitors – How can they help you
How property lawyers can help YOU when it comes to buying or selling YOUR home!
Many of us wonder what a solicitor is, and what they actually DO, let alone specific types of solicitors such as property lawyers. After all, it just sounds like a particularly fancy word designed to confuse the common population, and enable these apparent property lawyers to charge large sums of money for an unknown service!
However, in reality when it comes down to it, a property lawyer and indeed solicitors in general are incredibly useful people and can help smooth many things out. For example, a high street solicitor is hired to help out the general public when dealing with stores or outlets, and cannot find the result they are looking for in terms of an outcome; this could be an event such as being sold a product that is faulty or damaged, and the store refusing to cooperate and replace the said product.
In a case like this, a high street solicitor would come in handy by offering the complainant legal advice over the matter, and also providing a barrister, should the complainant need one.
Now, there are many types of solicitors, but we’re going to be focusing on only one: property lawyers. Over the course of this article, we’ll be discussing what a property lawyer IS, what they do, and how they can personally help you in whatever problems you may possess in regards to properties.
What a property lawyer IS and what they do
A property lawyer is a type of solicitor that specialises in laws and soliciting around property. Looking at this more closely, property lawyers are designed to help people to transfer properties/ real estate. They help to keep this transaction from the seller to the buyer smooth, and without a hitch. This type of transaction is called ‘conveyancing’:
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As stated by the definition above, we can see that conveyancing is useful to anyone buying a property or selling one, as the property solicitor will see to all of the preparation of document in regards to the handing over of ownership of properties.
However, a property lawyer does not just specialise in conveyancing; they also see to it that other property is handed over in a legal and lawful way. What this means is, they do not just see to real property (real estate: houses and such), but also to personal property also known as ‘moveable property’, which would included items such as vehicles (can’t get much more moveable than that!).
Other things that property lawyers have control over is the granting of finances in regards to properties. By this, I mean that it is possible for property lawyers to grant mortgages and liens to property owners. If you’re currently wondering what lien is, it is basically that a person or persons may keep property belonging to someone else until a debt is paid.
In this way, it is similar to a mortgage, but not so permanent as to ensure that the person to whom the property belongs to does not lose their property completely and permanently. It is basically using the property as currency until the debt provided by a lender is paid back; after this is repaid, the ownership of the property is handed back to the original owner.
How a property lawyer can help you
A property lawyer would be able to help you in securing property legally when buying property either privately or through an estate agent. Either way, it would be advisable, even necessary for you to have a property lawyer in order to safely acquire property from a seller.
Buying and selling property can be incredibly stressful, and a property lawyer can help to alleviate some of that stress and pressure on you, whether you’re the buyer or the seller. In regards to being a buyer of property, a property lawyer can help by:
- Handling a lot of the paperwork: As you can imagine, when buying a house there is a ton of paper involved, as the property passes hands and everything else. A property lawyer will ensure everything is accounted for and nothing is left amiss.
- Making sure everything is legal and lawful: Sometimes things can look “shady” or amiss, and a property lawyer will be able to spot something illegal or seemingly unlawful a mile off. In this way, the solicitor will help to keep everything legal, and prevent anything coming to bite you in the ass once you’ve acquired the property.
- Keeping the pressure off of you: A lot of the time, if you’re trying to go it alone when buying property, it can be a huge pressure on you and your family. After all, there is so much to sort out during the whole process. A property lawyer can shoulder a lot of the pressure, by relieving you of the paperwork, and sometimes even a lot of the dealings with the estate agent, and buyer, helping you to sit back a bit and enjoy what should be a happy and pretty straightforward process.
However, keep in mind a few things when looking for a property lawyer. The first thing to bear in mind is their reputation and previous dealings with clients; you need to know what they’re like to work with. Many a time has someone gone with a property lawyer only to find out that they’re troublesome, slow and generally useless in terms of their profession.
The second thing to note is their efficiency. Are they quick in responding to you? Are they quick and efficient in dealing with the whole process? You need to find someone who is going to get the job done, and get it done well. The last thing you want is more pressure when buying a property. A lot of the time, there is a ladder of buyers below and above the property, all wanting to move; you can’t expect them to wait around forever while your lawyer is sorting things out at a meagre pace. Find a lawyer who will keep things running smoothly for you.
Hopefully this has helped to inform you about how a property solicitor could potentially help you when acquiring or selling properties. Happy house hunting, and ensure you get the right person for the job!
What is the difference between Lawyer, Solicitor and Barrister
Lawyers, Solicitors and barristers are common terms used by people seeking legal advice but they do have very different meanings.
Lawyer for example is a term used by someone who believes they are ‘learned’ in an area of law.
In the UK when a person uses the term Lawyer they will be talking about either a Solicitor or a Barrister in general but they have different roles in the legal world.
Solicitors often advise and represent people in criminal and civil courts. A solicitor can deal in general area’s of law but many of them will specialise in areas of law such as criminal, personal injury and divorce.
When using our site you will see that under the Solicitors address there will be a list of the 5 main areas of law the company will deal in, this information allows you to see whether the solicitors can help you with your problem.
Barristers can be classed as ‘junior counsel’ or ‘Queens counsel’ in the UK, they are given these names for having a special ability and experience. A barristers client are solicitors who will instruct them. This means the solicitor can ask the barrister to advise on specific legal issues and to prepare legal documents.
What is a personal injury Lawyer?
A personal injury lawyer is someone who represents an individual who has claimed to be harmed, physically or mentally, as a result of the actions of a company or another person.
There is always much confusion about how personal injury law works. There are often press stories about everyday items being excluded on ‘health & safety grounds’ – take conkers in the schoolyard for example.
To clarify a personal injury incident, which this type of law covers – the injury sustained by the individual has to be the result of negligence, not just an accident. An accident is an incident that no one could have reasonably foreseen and for which no one should be held responsible. Whereas negligence is defined as something, which you can reasonably foresee, will injure someone else who is likely to be affected by your actions or lack of actions.
Although personal injury lawyers are trained and licensed to practice virtually any field of law, they tend to be experts in tort law. Tort law is a wrong that involves a breach of a civil duty owed to someone else. They tend to provide a service, which deals with; work injuries, automobile and other accidents, defective products, medical mistakes, slips and fall, accidents and many more. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for developing the law on tort and damages in England and Wales through legislative and procedural change. They represent the United Kingdom in European and international negotiations relating to these issues.
As well as general legal responsibilities, a personal injury lawyer would interview prospective clients and evaluate their cases to determine the legal issue. They would identify and research the features of the issue to build a strong case. The main objective is to ensure that the person injured or harmed in some way, obtains justice and compensation for their suffering.
There are strict standards of legal ethics, which Personal Injury Lawyers must adhere to when dealing with their clients. At a very basic level this includes; exercising competence and a duty of loyalty and confidentiality to work in their client’s best interest.
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), a not-for-profit organisation, whose head office is in Nottingham, was set up over 20 years ago to fight for the rights of injured people. It has over 4,700 member lawyers (mainly solicitors, barristers and legal executives) and is dedicated to changing the law, protecting and enhancing access to justice, and improving the services provided for victims of personal injury. It has become the leading, most respected organisation in its field.
Latest news on personal injury this week saw, Royal Bank of Scotland partly blame the decline on higher reserves on the costs of covering the rising costs of personal injury claims.
A consultation on civil litigation costs and funding in England and Wales, published by the Ministry of Justice, closed on 14 February 2011. Lord Justice Jackson recommended a number of reforms to the existing legislation and the government’s response to these and the public consultation views will be published shortly.
For a list of personal injury lawyers or solicitors you can visit our Personal Injury Solicitors page.
Odd UK Laws 3
In 1553 Edward the VI enacted a law that states it is actually illegal to stand within 100 yards of the Queen sockless. If you ever find you are planning a trip to see the Queen remember to take some socks and a spare pair just in case!
Small Change – SRA Numbers
We have made a very small change on the lawyer / solicitor information we display on their personal page. You will notice the addition of a ‘SRA Number’ which is the Solicitors Regulation Authority number.
This number can be used to ask the SRA for information on the Lawyer / Solicitor. We feel this information is important and the public should be able to view the full details offered by the Solicitors Regulation Authority as they “regulate more than 120,000 solicitors in England and Wales.”
As this feature has just been added as of this moment no Lawyers / Solicitors have had time to update this, however as time goes on you should start to see SRA numbers appearing.
Update to our Site
As you may notice we have updated our main site www.solicitalawyer.co.uk over the holidays.
The site has had the template upgraded to hopefully give users a better experience when browsing through the lists of Lawyers and Solicitors.
If you have any comments on how the site now looks and feels please drop us a e-mail or comment as we are trying to improve everything for you, the users.
Odd UK Laws 2
If you are ever in Scotland and you find yourself needing to use the toliet, don’t worry, according to the law you can knock on any householder in Scotland and the law states that they are obliged to let you use their toliet should you need it.
However, we don’t recommend you try this!
Odd UK Laws
As time goes on laws change on a regular basis, however, did you know that that in 1657, Cromwell’s Law states that it’s illegal to eat Mince Pies anywhere in England on Christmas Day so it begs the question, how many people this year will break the law!