META: Free initial consultations are offered by many firms of solicitors, but take note that some of these will only give over the phone free consultations. Finding that firm that offers the services you require is the first step; secondly you need to look at what information you would like to ascertain from them?
Most firms of solicitors will provide potential clients with the facility to call them and take advantage of at least half an hour’s worth of free advice. However, is this helpful? Not as much as you might think. The half an hour slot will often be an assessment of you as to the other way around, as they like to determine whether your not your case is worth taking on. This type of situation unfortunately , shows how many solicitors are able to twist the situation to their own advantage.
With this in mind, it is always far more helpful if you can find a solicitor that will offer you a face-to-face free consultation. Such a firm, that being said, may not be in your area. You may find such a service in the larger cities and as there is a lot more competition between firms.
If you are able to visit the offices yourself, you are usually more likely to be able to decide whether or not you feel the specific firm will be the right choice for you. Meeting the person who will be representing you throughout the proceedings and working with you through this important legal matter is important, so it is done for this reason.
If you are only able to secure an over the telephone free consultation, it is important to remember that this is YOUR opportunity to ascertain whether or not you wish to instruct them and not just theirs. Solicitors will tend to dominate the full half hour session, as they are trying to determine business for themselves; you must stop this if you can and find out the information you need. If you let them, then they will. Instead, use the half hour as it would have been advertised to you – your free consultation with them.
Of course you will have to set out the merits of the case, but you don’t have to take all day over this. The costs to you are important, so if you think you are likely to go ahead and instruct them, then make sure you find out this information. Get the charges set out in writing from the firm of solicitors prior to signing up with them. This will save any surprises further down the line. How they intend dealing with your case and the cost of each element are questions you should be asking your solicitor.
If you do not like the way in which your free consultation has gone, do not be afraid of declining this firm of solicitors’ service. There are plenty of other firms that should strike the right chord for you and you will find the solicitor that you feel will represent you the best.
Another very helpful tool in finding a solicitor can be found in accessing databases which contain unbiased reviews of the service previous clients have received. Firms that get away with offering a poor service can be really annoying, so this to you is invaluable. Solicitor.info is a definite site that will help to assist you in this area. You can also access the solicitors directory.