Solicitors advice

[PatriciaH]

Does anyone know if you can get free advice from a solicitor? I was told a few years ago that you could get half an hour and they could advise whether you had a case or not

thanks

[ingram]

I'm almost certain you can get half an hour free, but why not give one aring and ask, just to make sure.

[zmudge]

(1) There are many solicitors who offer 20 or 30 mins free, and they will often let the conversation drag on (2) however, if you leave original documents with them you will receive a bill, which is essentially blackmail for their return, and (3) there are very, very, very few firms of solicitors who will tell you that you have no case - you will be asked to leave the documents with them, and then later they will write to you asking you to make an upfront "goodwill" payment of, say, �1000 for preliminary counsel's opinion.

[Ding-Dong]

Solicitors, yuck, I come across a lot in my business, and I've never met one yet who wasn't utterly in love with themself - truly horrible, very arrogant profession. Avoid at all costs if you possibly can, they are parasites.

My amicable divorce cost a bloody fortune - all for doing a bit of bloody paperwork.

[Hermia]

I think some solicitors do free will consultations with any donations going to charity, but I'm not sure when it takes place.

Ding-Dong - I think we must have dealt with the same solicitor! My mum had trouble with one when she went to sort out her will. It turned out the solicitor was born in the same street as her and he spent half an hour asking her how it had changed and saying, "do you remember..." etc. Guess what, he went and billed her for the time! So, I rang up to complain because she is elderly and has never had dealings with a solicitor before. I felt the solicitor took advantage of her naivety of these things, she thought he wanted a chat whereas cynical ol' me would have got suspicious! Whenever I rang I got an answerphone. I tried continuallly for 2 days and eventually left a message. Then the receptionist 'phoned me and said she'd have to add the 'phone call to the bill - arg!

[PatriciaH]

Thanks everyone, dont think il bother with a solicitor now....dont want to get charged for what i thought would be free-.thanks trish

[Dreaming]

If you go to Citizens Advice, they have free sessions where you can talk to a Solicitor. I know because I did. Give them a ring and ask. Good luck.