Solicitors in Wandsworth, London
Finding a solicitor in Wandsworth
If a legal problem has landed on you, this is a guide to finding and checking a solicitor in Wandsworth, London. Three routes are worth knowing, and none depends on the borough you choose.
- The SRA Solicitors Register lets you check whether somebody is a solicitor and where they work.
- The Law Society Find a Solicitor service searches by name or SRA ID, location, area of practice and legal issue.
- The “Find a legal aid adviser or family mediator” service finds legal aid advisers in England and Wales by postcode.
The SRA’s “Choosing a solicitor” page tells consumers to check the register, so that is a sensible first stop when you are comparing solicitors in Wandsworth. However, the third route differs, because those advisers ask about your problem and finances to judge whether you can get legal aid.
Courts and tribunals for Wandsworth
Some problems reach a court, so it helps to know where one sits. Wandsworth County Court and Family Court is at 76-78 Upper Richmond Road Putney SW15 2SU, and the Find a court service lists it as handling housing and money claims. Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court is at 176a Lavender Hill Battersea SW11 1JU, and the same service lists it as handling crime and the single justice procedure.
Those are the only two courts this page names. However, the Find a Court or Tribunal service on GOV.UK shows which court handles a case. It also gives opening times and contact details, so check it before you travel.
Free and low-cost legal help in Wandsworth
Cost is often the first worry, so it makes sense to start with local bodies. Citizens Advice Wandsworth is listed at its Roehampton Centre (SW15 4EE) and its Battersea Library Centre (SW11 1JB). The Law Centres Network lists South West London Law Centres (Wandsworth), and says Law Centres help people in poverty overcome legal problems.
Wandsworth Borough Council also has a page titled “Cost of Living” on its official website. For example, it may suit you if money is your worry.
On a national level, GOV.UK’s “Check if you can get legal aid” 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 near you. Since that adviser applies for legal aid for you, you cannot apply on your own.
If you cannot get legal aid, GOV.UK points to free advice from the Law Centres Network, Citizens Advice and AdviceNow. For background on fees, see our guide to solicitor hourly rates in London.
Common reasons to look for a solicitor
Each practice area has its own page, because the detail differs a great deal from one to the next.
- Family law covers tasks such as arrangements after a relationship ends.
- Conveyancing is the legal work involved in buying or selling a home.
- Wills and probate covers making a will and dealing with an estate.
- Employment law relates to problems and agreements at work.
- Immigration covers applications to live, work or study in the UK.
- Criminal defence is about help when facing a criminal investigation or charge.
- Dispute resolution covers settling disagreements, for example over money or contracts.
- Personal injury relates to claims after an accident or injury.
Checking that a solicitor is regulated
Regulation means an official body steps in when standards slip. 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.
The SRA describes its register as the definitive impartial source of information about the law firms and people it regulates. Therefore, a register check is worth doing before you commit to anyone. Our check a solicitor page explains how.