There are times when you might not necessarily want to instruct a solicitor, but you could really do with a bit of free legal advice.

However, you need to be careful when taking free legal advice, as the individual in question may not have a thorough understanding of you and your personal circumstances. The law is a complex thing, and what may seem like small details can actually have a large bearing on your situation.

For instance, you might just want to know whether you can get divorced on the grounds of adultery. The answer to this is yes, you can. But if you were the person who committed the adultery, then you cannot be the person to start divorce proceedings. In addition, you cannot use adultery as a reason if you continued to live together for six months or more after the adultery was discovered.

This is just a small example that shows how a few details can dramatically change the answer to your legal question.

Therefore if you are looking for free legal advice, you should be certain of two things –

1. You are speaking to a legal expert

Firstly, that you are speaking to a legal expert. Some solicitors will offer a free initial consultation, although many will be reluctant to provide too much legal advice during this conversation, as they will not have a comprehensive understanding of your case. However, a free initial consultation is often enough to establish a few basic things, such as whether Probate is needed on your loved one’s estate, or whether you could take your employer to an Employment Tribunal.

There are also charities that will provide free legal advice. Some insurance policies include access to a legal advisory team, meaning you can call in and get a certain amount of free legal advice. In addition, trade unions sometimes offer free legal advice to their members.

2. You explain all the details

Secondly, that whichever legal expert you speak to, you provide all the necessary details. This will ensure that the legal expert will be able to make a proper assessment of your legal issue, which will reduce the risk of him/her providing legal advice that later turns out to be inaccurate.

Instruct a solicitor

While there are ways to get free legal advice, if you have a legal issue that needs to be resolved, you are better off instructing a solicitor. That way a solicitor will be able to study your case and carefully consider the best way forward.

If you are looking for a solicitor but you are not sure where to start, our find a solicitor service can help. We will connect you with the right solicitor for your legal issue and will focus our search on finding a solicitor in your local area. We will do this for you completely free of charge.

To get started, all you need to do is fill in the free online enquiry form, telling us your name, location and a brief summary of your legal matter or contact us.

Should I use a local firm of solicitors near me, or can I use a solicitor based elsewhere in the country?

This is a question that is often asked by those searching for legal help. There is really no set answer, as there are a number of advantages to each. Ultimately, it will depend on your personal preferences.

Remote solicitors

Sometimes you will find a solicitor that you feel may be able to help with your legal issue, but will then notice that while you are based in Skegness, the law firm you are considering is in Southampton.

The same might happen if a friend or family member recommends a firm they have previously used, yet you are not located in the same part of the country. This is what we refer to as having a ‘remote’ solicitor.

In days gone by, it would have been more problematic to use a solicitor that was not based in your local vicinity. But these days, so much is done via email, phone and letter. In fact, very personal legal matters, such as the writing of your Will, can be done without ever even meeting your solicitor. So, if you find a solicitor who you are happy with, you should not necessarily let their location deter you from instructing them.

The exception to this is if you live in England or Wales, you should not instruct a solicitor based in Scotland or Northern Ireland. This is because they have different laws, and so will be unable to work for clients across the border. Therefore if you live in England or Wales, you need to find a solicitor in England or Wales. The same goes if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Local solicitors

On the other hand, many people find it comforting to have their solicitor situated nearby. You can go into the office for face-to-face meetings, drop off documents and pop in to sign important pieces of paperwork. Depending on the nature of your legal issue, you may also have to attend conferences or court hearings. If you are located nearby, it will reduce your travel time.

So while by no means essential, instructing a local solicitor does certainly have advantages, particularly if you are someone who prefers to build a relationship with your lawyer. But the bottom line is that it is entirely up to you.

Solicitors near me

If you are looking for a solicitor in England and Wales to help you with a legal matter, we can help. More than that, we can do the searching for you. We have hand selected the best solicitors across the country.

Once you have told us a little bit about your legal issue, we can pick out the solicitors near you that are best suited to your individual set of circumstances. We do this completely free of charge.

To find a solicitor near you, simply fill out the free online enquiry form, or contact us for more information.

If you are looking for free legal advice there are a number of resources available to you. Or we can put you in touch with solicitors who offer a free initial consultation.

All you need to do is ask.

Help with legal issues

There are times in life when you would like to speak to a legal professional to get some advice, but you do not necessarily need to instruct a solicitor. For example, you might want to know if you have grounds for a claim, if your employer has treated you wrongfully, or whether you need to go through probate after a loved one dies.

In these kind of situations, you will probably just want a quick conversation to find out what your legal position is, and whether there is any further action you can take, should you want to. But seeing as all you need is some simple advice, you will not want to go through the time and expense of hiring a lawyer.

So, what can you do?

Where to find free legal advice

Well, there are a number of options open to you.

Firstly, if you are a member of a trade union, you might be entitled to receive free legal help. Certain insurance policies also provide access to free or reduced-cost legal advice, so it is worth checking your policy for details.

Secondly, there are a number of charities who can provide legal assistance. Again, this may either be free or they may charge a small fee. Probably the most well-known example is the Citizens Advice Bureau, which has many online resource and offices.

Thirdly, some people will be entitled to legal aid, which covers the cost of their legal fees. However, this will only be available to those with a low income. It can also only be used if your case is considered to be serious – for example, you are at risk of domestic abuse.

Lastly, many solicitors will offer a free initial consultation which allows you to clarify your legal position. Sometimes this is all you need, as it will help you to establish whether you have grounds for a claim or have to go through probate (for example).

Other solicitors also offer an initial consultation for a set fee, during which you can obtain expert legal advice. This can be another good option, as you can ask as many questions as you like during the meeting or phone call.

No win no fee solicitors

Once you have obtained free legal advice, you might find that you actually need to instruct a solicitor to represent you. If you are concerned about the cost, look for a solicitor who can work on a no win no fee basis, or who can work for a fixed fee.

No win no fee means that your solicitor will only be able to recover their legal fees if your case is successful. No win no fee usually only applies to compensation claims, such as personal injury cases and employment law cases.

Other types of legal issue may be dealt with on a fixed fee basis. This will ensure that you know the cost at the outset.

Solicitors near me

If you would like us to put you in touch with solicitors who offer a free initial consultation, work on a no win no fee basis, or a fixed fee basis, simply ask. Fill in the free online enquiry form, or contact us for more information.

If you are looking to find a solicitor near you, we can help. Solicitors Near Me can connect you with solicitors in your local area who specialise in the relevant field of law. So, if you are in need of a divorce lawyer, we can put you in touch with a family law solicitor near you. Or if you suspect you might have been unfairly dismissed from work, we will connect you with an employment solicitor.

Whatever your legal issue, just let us know and we will help you find the right legal professional to assist. To get started, simply fill out the free online enquiry form. If you would like some more information first, please do not hesitate to contact us.

How much does it cost?

Now you are probably wondering how much this service is going to cost you. The answer is absolutely nothing. We will connect you with a solicitor 100% free of charge. We do this because we understand how stressful it can be when you are in need of legal help, but you do not know where to turn.

Yes, you can search your local high street for a solicitor or do some research online. But all of this takes time and effort. And sometimes when it comes to legal matters, there is not a lot of time to spare. This can be particularly true if you have an employment law issue, or you are being prevented from seeing your children, or you want to clarify your legal rights.

What if I do not like the solicitor you recommend?

When instructing a solicitor, it is extremely important that you find the right person for you. They should specialise in their given area of law, the fees should be acceptable to you, and you should also be able to form a good working relationship. Sometimes it can be hard to find a solicitor who offers all of these things.

We understand this, which is why if you do not like the solicitor we recommend for any reason, then that is absolutely fine. You have no obligation to go with our suggestion. What’s more, it still will not cost you a penny. When you think about it, you really have nothing to lose, but you could end up with fantastic legal representation without having to do any of the searching.

What type of solicitors can you recommend?

We can connect you with a wide variety of solicitors, including (but not limited to) family law solicitors, employment solicitors and probate solicitors. Just tell us what kind of lawyer you are in need of and we will hand-pick an accredited and experienced solicitor in your area to help you.

Ready to find a solicitor?

If you are thinking ‘I want to find a solicitor near me’ then please look no further. All you need to do if fill out the online enquiry form, including your name, email address, the type of solicitor you require and a brief explanation of your legal matter. You can leave the rest to us.

If you have any further questions you would like answered first, do not hesitate to contact us.