Choosing the right lawyer for your particular need is important.
If you don’t know anyone to offer a personal recommendation, then how do you go about choosing one when an online search brings up a myriad of names and numbers to call.
Online profiles and reviews can offer a guiding light, perhaps, taking into account the sometimes vexatious nature of the internet.
It’s worth taking time out to consider your needs and by planning ahead and doing your homework you can secure the right person for the job, and save yourself time and money in the long run.
Mark Serby, director and employment solicitor at Wake Smith guides you on what to look for in a lawyer.
He said: “Choosing the right firm is important. What can start as an initial meeting about one issue at one point in time can often turn into a long term relationship, where a firm of lawyers deals with both commercial and personal advice.
“It may start out as an employment matter and be followed up by tax matters, financial planning, premises leasing, wills and house buying and all of a sudden you have travelled through a decade of advice with trusted advisors at every turn.
“So it is important to choose the right firm, and persons within, to act for you. Relationships are key in any business environment and lawyers are often involved long term in a growing business.
“Alongside this, personal matters, often closely associated with business matters, do tend to crop up along the way, so it is a good idea to choose a full service firm that has a good spread of established partners specialising in their practice areas.”
What to consider in the search for legal representation
Recommendations and reviews
Ask your business colleagues who they use and recommend. They may have experience in some areas and good contacts in others. Names with specific strengths are always good to hear.
Nowadays a personal recommendation or positive online review can help to build a long term legal partnership. Look at what people are saying about the firm online. Reviews from existing and satisfied customers can be helpful to check out real life experiences.
Experience and competence
Does this solicitor match with your business and its legal needs? Are there specialist sectors you need advice on which may not be their sector?
Do they cover personal issues such as Wills and probate, trusts and family law?
Understanding
Do they have the understanding to deal with your requirements now and in the future. You might be a small start up now but does the lawyer understand where you want to be tomorrow and share your vision for the future?
Communication
Make sure you understand what they are saying. If you find yourself having a conversation and they use terminology you don’t understand, ask them to explain it.
Accessibility
You may know what your requirements at the outset, but you may also have matters that arise at a later date that need attention. Consider whether a one man band will be able to respond to your needs or whether a larger, full service company can give you the time and expertise you need.
Chemistry
Relationships, and getting along with people, is key in any field but with legal advice you need to get along with your advisor. This will ensure a strong, long term relationship and the best results for your business and personal legal needs.
References and past work
Don't be afraid to ask for references. Ask what types of businesses or cases the lawyer has worked with in the past. Many will be able to talk happily about their successes and long term clients.
Ask what it costs
Service and fees can vary depending on the location, size and status of the firm as well as each lawyer's reputation and experience. Under new rules, solicitors are obliged to publish pricing for some, but not all, legal services.
It is not unreasonable to ask about costs (by the hour or flat fee for example) before making a decision but bear in mind level of experience. The cheapest costs may mean the junior staff conduct work, which can take twice as long. It can be false economy.
Meet regularly
If you maintain regular contact, small legal problems they can be nipped in the bud, while bigger matters can be discussed and updated more easily than waiting long periods before being updated.
Your queries answered
Wake Smith has serviced the legal requirements of individuals and companies across the Sheffield City Region for more than 200 years.
The firm understands key business and individual legal needs which has enabled the company to maintain and enhance its status as a leading law firm, recruiting experienced solicitors to its Sheffield base from a range of high-profile law firms, as the company grows.
The firm now has approximately 100 staff, including 22 directors, with more than 44 experienced legal professionals; including solicitors, associates, consultants and chartered legal executives providing the legal expertise and practical law advice that its clients need.
Specialisms include legal services for both businesses and individuals including corporate and commercial; dispute resolution, commercial litigation; banking and finance; human resources - employment; clinical negligence and personal injury; personal tax, trusts and probate; family; commercial property, property litigation, intellectual property and IT and telecoms.
Business clients range from multi-national corporations and national charities to family businesses and individual entrepreneurs, from banks and manufacturers to local authorities, from health sector to retail developers, from PFI/PPP contractors to new media designers.
Wake Smith also provides specialist legal personal services, offering in-depth, practical solutions to those clients seeking to protect their personal estates, make legal arrangements for their family, and be advised on complex clinical negligence cases or personal injury claims and for those who are moving house and require conveyancing services.
Think we are the right people for your commercial and individuals legal needs? Give us a call on 0114 266 6660 or email at [email protected]
