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Guides

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What the guides cover

You may have a legal question and no idea who can answer it. These guides aim to help. They answer common questions in plain English, and each one starts with the answer, so you do not have to read to the end to find it. If you want a wider view, the London solicitor guides on this page are a good place to begin.

The questions fall into a few groups. Some ask about costs, while others ask when you need a solicitor at all. Others cover legal aid, regulation, complaints or how to find the right kind of help. Because every guide tackles one question, you can pick the one that matches your problem and skip the rest.

The guides cover eight practice areas: family law and divorce, conveyancing and property, wills and probate, employment law, immigration, criminal defence, dispute resolution, and personal injury. However, we cover personal injury in guide form only. Each guide ends by pointing you to how to check that a solicitor is regulated, since that check matters whichever area you need.

Where to start

If you are not sure who does what, start with the basics. What a solicitor does sets out the role in plain terms. For money worries, solicitor hourly rates in London explains how fees work.

If you plan to buy a home, read whether you need a solicitor to buy a house. That guide helps you decide before you spend anything. However, if cost is the main worry, free legal advice and legal aid in London shows where help may exist.

Other guides cover checks and problems. To confirm that a regulator oversees your solicitor, use how to check a solicitor is regulated. However, if you feel unhappy with a solicitor’s work, how to complain about a solicitor walks you through the steps in order.

Before you instruct a solicitor

A short check now can save trouble later. The SRA Solicitors Register lets you look up the records of the solicitors and law firms the SRA regulates. As a result, you can see whether somebody is a solicitor and where they work. Our page on how to check a solicitor shows you how to do it.

You may also want to know which area of law fits your problem. The practice areas page lists them all, so you can see where your question belongs. Therefore, you will know what to look for before you speak to anyone.

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Settlement agreements: what they are, who pays for the advice and what it costs

Learn what a settlement agreement is, what it can include and why independent advice matters. See who usually pays for that advice and what to ask first.

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What does a solicitor do?

A solicitor gives legal advice and offers legal services to help resolve legal issues. Learn the kinds of work they do and how to check one on the register.

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Finding a solicitor who speaks Turkish, Spanish, Chinese, Polish, Portuguese or Romanian

Learn how to find a solicitor in London who speaks your language, from searching to asking. Check the firm is regulated and see how the SRA can help you.

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Do I need a solicitor for a police interview?

Find out how to ask for free legal advice at a police station. Learn what happens if you wait, how long police can hold you, and what follows a charge.

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Can I use a solicitor outside London for a London property?

Can you use a solicitor outside London for a London property? See what the rules say about lender panels, and the questions to ask a firm that is far away.

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Solicitor or barrister: what is the difference?

Learn how a solicitor differs from a barrister and who regulates each. Find out when you can approach a barrister directly, without another lawyer first.

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Solicitor hourly rates in London: the official guideline rates explained

Learn what the official guideline hourly rates for London solicitors are. Then see why your own firm's rate may differ, because each firm sets its own.

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How much does a solicitor charge for probate (and to be an executor)?

The probate court fee is set by GOV.UK, while solicitors' charges vary. See typical ranges, what executors may charge, and how to ask for a clear quote.

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Redundancy rights and when to get advice

Statutory redundancy pay depends on your service, age and a weekly cap. Learn who qualifies, how it is worked out and the 6-month deadline. Start here.

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Professional negligence claims: what to know first

Learn what a professional negligence claim involves, the six-year limits and why you complain first. See how to check a solicitor on the SRA register.

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Personal injury referral fees are banned: what that means for you

Referral fees for personal injury claims are banned for regulated persons. Learn what the law says, what to check yourself, and the three-year time limit.

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What "no win no fee" means (and why we do not refer claims)

Learn what no win no fee means, who pays if a claim fails and what to ask first. This guide gives information only, and this site does not refer claims.

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Leasehold purchase: extra steps and extra costs in London

See what a leasehold purchase adds to conveyancing in London, from lease checks to ground rent. Learn which costs and fees to ask about before you buy a flat.

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Lease extension: when you need a solicitor

The two-year rule for lease extension claims no longer applies. Learn how long an extension can be, why 80 years matters and who gives free leasehold advice.

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Landlord and tenant disputes: when to involve a solicitor

Section 21 notices ended in England on 1 May 2026. Learn where to find free help first, and when a landlord and tenant solicitor is worth asking about it.

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Choosing an immigration adviser: what regulation to look for

Learn why an immigration adviser must be regulated and what advisers can and cannot do. See the Home Office fees from April 2026 and what to ask first.

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Free legal advice and legal aid in London

Find out what legal aid might cover and how the income and savings checks work. See where free advice is available in London if you cannot get legal aid.

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Employment tribunal: do you need a solicitor?

Learn the time limits, costs and Acas steps for an employment tribunal claim. See what a solicitor can add and where free help sits, plus the legal aid.

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Do I need a solicitor for probate?

Find out when probate is needed, who can apply and how to apply yourself. See when asking a regulated solicitor for help may be worth the cost. Read on.

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Do I need a solicitor to make a will?

Find out if you need a solicitor to make a will. Learn what makes a will valid, and when getting advice is sensible if your will is not a simple one. Read on.

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Do I need a solicitor for a divorce?

Find out whether you can get divorced without a solicitor and what GOV.UK says you need. Learn where the court process ends and money advice may begin.

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Do I need a solicitor to buy a house?

Find out when you can buy a house without a solicitor and when a lender requires one. Learn how licensed conveyancers fit in and what to ask them first.

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How much does an uncontested divorce cost?

Find out how much a solicitor costs for a divorce, alongside the £628 court fee. Then see the steps and waits, because they shape your timing and your budget.

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How much does a solicitor charge to sell a house?

See the typical legal fee for selling a freehold house, what pushes it up and what it leaves out. Learn how to ask a firm for a fixed quote before you hire.

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How much does a solicitor cost to buy a house?

Published UK guides put the legal fee for buying a home at roughly £800 to £1,500. See which other costs sit outside the legal fee, and what to ask a firm.

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How much does a will cost in the UK?

A simple will from a solicitor typically costs about £200 to £500. Learn the three ways to make one, what makes a will valid, and how to change it later.

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How much does conveyancing cost in London?

See what published UK guides say about conveyancing fees in London. Learn what the legal fee covers, what sits outside it and how to ask for a clear quote.

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How to complain about a solicitor (Legal Ombudsman and SRA)

Learn how to complain about a solicitor, starting with the firm and then the Legal Ombudsman. See the time limits, the current wait and the free service.

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How to check a solicitor is regulated

Learn how to check a solicitor is registered using the SRA register and badge. Find out what to do if the firm does not appear in your search. Read on.

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Can I represent myself in court? Litigants in person explained

You have the right to speak for yourself in court. Learn how a McKenzie friend helps, where to find free advice, and which London courts hear civil cases.

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