Navigating a divorce isn’t easy. There’s a lot to consider, from dividing assets to making arrangements for children. It’s a difficult and emotional time, which is why it’s so important to have the right people around you.
This includes a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer who can give you the support and strength you need to get the best possible outcome. That’s why we’ve put together these top tips to help you find the right solicitor for you.
Check their credentials
When looking at a particular solicitor, it’s important to check their credentials. This includes finding out if they are regulated by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA) – which is the regulator of law firms and solicitors in England and Wales.
Most law firms will feature the SRA logo on their website and state that they are authorised and regulated. If in doubt, you can use the SRA website to check if a company is regulated by them. It will also tell you about any firms they have shut down or people who are prohibited from practicing.
Choose a specialist in family law
It’s worth choosing a solicitor that specialises in family law and divorce cases. This will give you peace of mind that they have plenty of experience and knowledge in all aspects of divorce – including financial settlements, splitting assets and child arrangements.
They may also be able to provide support with mediation or arbitration if you and your partner are struggling to come to an agreement during the process.
Look at online reviews
Want to get an idea of a solicitor’s reputation? Then why not check out their reviews online? You can get an idea of the quality of service they provide by reading what their past or current clients have to say.
Some useful websites include Google, Feefo and Trustpilot. Using the latter, you can search for a particular firm and get a “TrustScore” which gives you an overall measurement of customer satisfaction. It’s a quick way to get an overview of a company’s reputation.
Ask friends and family for recommendations
If you know someone who’s been through the divorce process before, you could ask them for recommendations. They’ll be able to tell you about their own experience and whether a particular firm offered them the level of service they expected.
You may find that you can trust their comments more than someone you don’t know, but it’s worth remembering that your needs may be slightly different and require another set of skills.
Use The Legal 500
It’s also worth taking advantage of The Legal 500 during your search. They assess “the strengths of law firms in over 150 jurisdictions” using a range of criteria, including “feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews” and “a team of researchers who have unrivalled experience”.
It’s updated every year and you can see the results for free on the website. It’s a quick and easy way to find out the quality of service a lawyer is likely to provide.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a lawyer, and what’s best for you will ultimately come down to your unique requirements and circumstances. As you research online for divorce lawyers, we recommend trusting your gut instinct and choosing a firm that makes you feel reassured and supported from the get-go.