Solicitors have probably saved you money.

[tonywiltshire]

Anyone who has used a solicitor has probably saved money so why are they considered expensive and sometimes even self seeking, be fair, they have helped you and are very good value for money.

[emmie]

are they, not the ones i came across.

[boxtops]

Saved money in the long run, perhaps - but no professional service is cheap these days. I'd rather seek specialist advice any time I need it, than try to manage it myself.

[joeluke]

You're kidding right Tony?

[Buenchico]

Hmmm . . .
Would that be the solicitor who wrote my will which years later (when I set up my own will-writing business) I came to realise was full of holes?

.. .or would that be the solicitor who, acting for the friends I was selling my house to, insisted that I'd not provided accurate information about the rights of access over my land, despite the fact that it was the SAME solicitor who had told me where they were (when I purchased the house)?

There are some excellent solicitors but, just like most other professions, there are a significant percentage who struggle to do their jobs (and they tend to be the ones who over-charge).

[FredPuli43]

Not so fast. They often have,overall, but the way they set about billing clients is extraordinary. That's why we have taxing masters in courts, but the ordinary lay client, in non- contentious business or contentious business, has no idea how the bill is arrived at nor whether, in truth, any item on it was a necessary expense. I happen to have inside knowledge of what and what is not waste, and even I suffer attempts at overcharging, usually through laxity in deciding what is really needed.

[Prudie]

You must be joking. I've only used a solicitor for a divorce - paid him £8K and walked away with nothing - and to manage a will, also paid thousands for what I'm not sure.

[tonywiltshire]

No joe I am serious.
It is my view that solicitors do a very good job and usually save money, even if hourly rates may seem high, this is not what the lawyer receives there are a few, very few, bad apples but in general you get very good value for money.

[wolf63]

I find that people are quick to bad mouth vets too. I don't think that it is normally justified. There are some chains of veterinary surgeries that are only in it for the money, but for most vets it is a vocation.

[ladybirder]

Are you a solicitor tony?

[DaisyNonna]

No, the solicitor who was the executor of my cousin's will was was inept, dilatory, patronising, unhelpful and cost me a great deal of money.

[Barmaid]

The difficulty is, people only really remember (and talk about) their bad experiences. Look for example at the number of negative replies on this thread! A good solicitor is worth his (or her) weight in gold and can save you time, money and a truck load of stress. I've only ever used solicitors for conveyancing and have never had a problem. Unfortunately, (professionally) I have seen a handful of truly dreadful ones too.

[RATTER15]

Yes solicitors are expensive, they have certainly helped me out on a few occasions and saved me money.

[NOX]

I had a truly excellent criminal solicitor in Belfast, had a shower of really rotten civil ones here but now have an excellent one and likewise had an issue with a 2 or 3 vets before finding a very good one. It's like anything else sometimes you get hammered by a prat and sometimes the sun comes out because someone goes the extra mile- you just have to look around.

[flip_flop]

I deal with solicitors a lot - on an almost daily basis - and I think, by and large, the ones I deal with are pretty good. My involvement with solicitors is generally in the field of contract law, and if my experience is anything to go by, their knowledge of their field has always been very good.

However, this causes two problems.

The first is that, in a lot of cases, I genuinely believe solicitors are a hindrance to good, efficient commerce. I have lost count of the number of times I have scratched through chunks of contracts because they are unwieldly, do not do what it is supposed to do, or worse, just simply pointless.

Secondly, solicitors are quick (and keen) to get into a pi s sing contest with a fellow solicitor over contract negotiations - it is an ego trip. If the ego trip isn't bad enough, because of the ego trip their billable hours increase.

[tonywiltshire]

I do not think there is any profession who are as rigidly controlled as solicitors and as barmaid says you only hear stories concerning mistakes and overcharging you rarely hear of the good service given. Fred touches on the remedy anyone can take if they believe they have been overcharged, they can challenge the bill and ask the senior partner for a detailed breakdown, you can have the law society check the bill and issue a remuneration certificate, the matter may then go to the taxing master and if you are still not satisfied you can appeal to the high court.

[Dee Sa]

Solicitors saving you money which planet are you on ? they even charge if you ring to ask a question !

[tonywiltshire]

Dee, do you expect people to work for nothing, if you telephones for information do you really believe you should not be charged? If you believe the charge is unfair you can take the action that is outlined.