Solicitors in Richmond, Richmond upon Thames
Finding a solicitor in Richmond upon Thames
If you have a legal problem, the hardest part is often knowing where to look. This is a guide to finding and checking a solicitor in Richmond upon Thames, London, including anyone searching for solicitors in Richmond. Three official routes can help, and none of them depends on the borough you choose.
- The SRA Solicitors Register lets you check whether somebody is a solicitor, where they work and whether a firm is regulated by the SRA.
- The Law Society Find a Solicitor service searches by organisation or person, name or SRA ID, location, area of practice and legal issue.
- The “Find a legal aid adviser or family mediator” service searches by postcode, and the advisers ask about your problem and finances to work out whether you can get legal aid.
Because the SRA tells consumers to check the register, it is a sensible place to start.
Courts and tribunals for Richmond upon Thames
Some legal problems end up in court. However, this guide does not name a court in Richmond upon Thames. Find a Court or Tribunal on GOV.UK shows which court handles a case. Therefore, that service names the right building for your matter.
To find the right court, use the Find a Court or Tribunal service on GOV.UK. It gives each court or tribunal’s address, opening times, what it handles and contact details. Check these before you travel, since each court handles different kinds of case.
Free and low-cost legal help in Richmond upon Thames
Paying a solicitor is not the only option, so it is worth checking the free routes first. Sheen Citizens Advice, also called Citizens Advice Richmond, is listed on Citizens Advice at Sheen, London SW14 8LP. The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has an official website, and it also has pages titled “Richmond Cost of Living Hub” and “Housing”.
There are national routes too. The GOV.UK “Check if you can get legal aid” service asks about your legal problem, income and savings. It then tells you whether to speak to someone for phone advice or how to find a legal adviser or mediator near you. However, you cannot apply for legal aid on your own, because a legal adviser applies for you.
If you cannot get legal aid, GOV.UK points to free advice from the Law Centres Network, Citizens Advice and AdviceNow. The Law Centres Network says Law Centres help people in poverty overcome legal problems, and it lists all Law Centres across the UK on one page.
Common reasons to look for a solicitor
A particular task usually sends someone to a solicitor, so each practice area below has its own page.
- Family law covers matters such as divorce and arrangements for children after a separation.
- Conveyancing is the legal work of buying or selling a home.
- Wills and probate covers making a will and dealing with a person’s estate after they die.
- Employment law deals with problems between employers and the people who work for them.
- Immigration covers applications to live, work or study in the UK.
- Criminal defence is for people who are being investigated or charged with an offence.
- Dispute resolution covers disagreements over money, contracts or property that need settling.
- Personal injury covers claims after an accident or injury that someone else may have caused.
Checking that a solicitor is regulated
Regulation means an official body sets standards and can act when they are not met. Legal Choices says the SRA keeps watch over all solicitors in England and Wales and the firms they work for. It also says the SRA takes action when solicitors fall below the required standards or act dishonestly.
Because the SRA describes its register as the definitive impartial source of information about the law firms and people it regulates, the register is the place to confirm a name. Our check-a-solicitor page shows you how to use it.
Questions to ask before you instruct a solicitor
A few plain questions can save trouble later, because they set expectations at the start. Ask the firm how it will work out the fee and what the quote includes. Then ask what the fee covers, so that nothing comes as a surprise.
Ask who will do the work, since a junior colleague may handle much of it. Find out how often the firm will update you and by what method. Finally, ask how the firm is regulated, so you can confirm the answer on the register. If you are unsure whether you need a solicitor or a barrister, our guide on the difference between the two explains it.