If you are looking for a solicitor in Scotland you are clearly dealing with a matter of some importance and finding the right one is crucial.
No matter if you have never used the services of a solicitor in the past, or already have on but they can’t take your case on for whatever reason it can be hard to know where to start in your search, especially when the consequences of making the wrong decision could be extremely serious.
You might be able to get a good recommendation from a friend who as been in a similar situation in the past, but if not, there are plenty of other places to look.
This guide will take you through some of the best places to find a respected solicitor who specialises in the area of law that you are looking for, and how to tell is they are a good fit.
Here are some of the best places to find lawyer Glasgow options:
Online Search
Just google it probably wasn’t the advice you we’re looking for when you clicked on this article but the truth is that the internet is an incredibly powerful research and should be your starting point for any solicitor search.
Whilst you shouldn’t make your decision based solely on which law firm comes up first this will allow you to build a shortlist of potential options who specialise in the area of law that you are looking for and have a good reputation for success.
Many law firms will have a section on their website for testimonies where you can read about the experiences of previous clients. These can be useful, but should be taken with a pinch of salt as they will be handpicked by the firm themselves who are only going to publish positive experiences on their site.
Word of mouth
If you know a trusted friend or family member who have gone through a similar experience to the one you are currently, why not ask them what lawyer they used and what their experience was like. If they had a positive one and would recommend the lawyer, your search may be over before it has really begun.
Of course, just because a lawyer worked well for one person does not mean that they will be a good match for you so make sure to arrange a consultation with them before committing.
Law Society of Scotland Accreditation Scheme
The Law Society of Scotland (LSS) provides accreditation to Scottish solicitors who possess certain specialist skills in order to make it easier for people to find a lawyer who meets their needs.
If your legal case is complex, or you expect it to get so in the future, there is no better place to find lawyers with specific skills and niche experience.
The LSS website allows users to narrow their search by filtering according to specialism, with 28 different options available.
Through the LSS, Scottish solicitors can be accredited under:
- agricultural law
- arbitration
- charity law
- child law
- commercial leasing
- construction law
- crofting law
- debt & asset recovery
- discrimination law
- employment law
- environmental law
- family law
- freedom of information and data protection
- immigration insolvency law
- incapacity & mental disability law
- intellectual property law
- liquor licensing law
- medical negligence law
- medical negligence (defender only)
- mental health law
- pensions law
- personal injury law
- planning law
- private client tax
- professional negligence law
- public procurement law
- trusts law
Achieving LSS accreditation is a lengthy process and requires extensive checks and questions about past cases. It must also be renewed every 5 years meaning that if a law firm is on the list you can be confident that they are committed to maintaining high standards and providing the best possible service to their clients.
Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
There are many individual online resources for those seeking law firms who speicialise in each different area of the law and it would be impossible to mention each and every one here.
However, one that is worth a mention is APIL who are a not-for-profit organisation that devotes itself to supporting and providing services to those who have been the victim of a personal injury.
Their website lists all APIL accredited personal injury practitioners in Scotland and is a fantastic resource for anyone who has suffered a personal injury and is looking to get the justice that they deserve.
No matter what type of lawyer you are looking for, it is essential that you take the time to do your research before you commit. Making the wrong decision at this stage could have very serious consequences for the future after all.