Make sure your Bury St Edmunds solicitor is qualified to help you.

Check your solicitor holds a practising certificate issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority; it will be on display in their office. The SRA is the independent regulator (set up by the Law Society) which sets the rules that all solicitors must follow.

I can’t afford a solicitor

If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you may be eligible for legal aid.

You can find out by phoning one of the solicitor firms in Bury St Edmunds, or by asking the Bury St Edmunds Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

The Legal Services Commission is responsible for managing Legal Aid. They make sure that all solicitors' firms that offer legal aid meet high quality standards.

Can I ask my solicitor to work on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis, and how do they get paid?

It depends on what your case is. Sometimes solicitors will work on a ‘no win, no fee’ or ‘conditional’ basis.

If you win the case, the losing side will usually pay your solicitor's fees. If you lose, don’t worry - you won’t have to pay your solicitor's fees, but may need to cover the other side’s costs – you might consider taking out an insurance policy just in case. 

What do I need to take with me?

Take any paper work that you think could be relevant, and take along proof of earnings and identity documents. Make a list of the things you’d like to cover, as it’s easy to forget them when you’re there discussing your case. By all means, take a friend or family member or other representative with you.

What happens after the first meeting?

Ask the solicitor to send you a summary of the advice they’ve given, though be aware you may need to pay for this. Ask them too to specify who will be dealing with your case, when you can expect contact and updates, how long they think the whole thing will take, and an estimate of costs (you can set a spending limit if you wish). If you have any changes in circumstances (including financial ones), let them know as soon as possible.