Legal Advice

Solicitors

Solicitors provide individual advice about your legal rights and obligations. They can tell you where you stand in relation to particular issues and advise you if urgent action needs to be taken. Some of the problems which arise when a relationship breaks down can be very complex. Your solicitor will focus on protecting your interests and trying to help you reach a fair agreement.

The fact that you consult a solicitor does not mean that you will necessarily have to go to court. Solicitors often refer clients to other professionals or organisations who can help them in particular circumstances, such as counsellors, therapists or family mediators.

If your case does go to court your solicitor will represent you or arrange for another solicitor or barrister to do this.

Contacting a Solicitor

When you telephone to arrange an appointment to see a solicitor it is a good idea to give a brief outline of your circumstances. For example, say that you want a divorce, or that your relationship with your partner has ended, or your child has been placed for adoption, or whatever it is. Make sure that the person you will be seeing does that sort of work. You should also ask about the solicitor's charges. Find out whether the firm undertakes publicly funded work (Legal Aid), if you are on a low income. Otherwise, you should ask about the hourly charging rate of the solicitor you will be seeing, because most solicitors charge for all the time spent on your case at a set hourly rate.

Our support services database contains a list of Lawyers/Solicitors and Legal Aid Solicitors in Devon and Cornwall.

Barristers

Barristers represent people in court. They also sometimes give advice to solicitors and their clients about particularly difficult or complex areas of the law, or the way in which a court would be likely to approach a particular issue. You cannot consult a barrister directly, only through a solicitor. They only get involved in a case when a solicitor decides that their particular expertise is needed or if you go to court.

Law Centres

Law Centres give a free and independent professional legal service to people who live or work in their areas. There is only one law centre in Devon & Cornwall called The Devon Law Centre, and it doesn't provide legal advice and representation in the area of family law: it can only advise on community care, education, housing and immigration.

The Official Solicitor

The Official Solicitor acts for people who, because they lack mental capacity and cannot properly manage their own affairs, are unable to represent themselves and no other suitable person or agency is able and willing to act. He usually becomes formally involved when appointed by the Court, and he may act as his own solicitor, or instruct a private firm of solicitors to act for him. Read More about The Official Solicitor’s Office - Parents Network Article