Solicitors fees are a bit steep

If you think you're so clever, don't instruct a solicitor and don't complain about the charges. There is a reason as to why solicitor's charge the rates they do - they have to work damn hard to ensure that the advice they give complies with the everchanging legislation. The fact that you don't understand the "legal drivel" speaks for itself.

Due to an accident in Morrisons Car Park I am still out of work and have had two operations on my knee My Solicitor seems only interested in letting me know how much his Bill is so far £20.000. I am sure this is why Morrisons are hanging back.My solicitor told me early on that £3000 may be the most I will get two years down the line and no further ahead stop these thieves

Why are admin allowing these low lifes who prey on people who are down on their luck to leave these posts here? Why don't they remove them?

Mike P and I may not agree about everything but we do on this one - stay away, they will rip you off.

Not just their costs worry - it's their inefficiency and ineptitude. I had a debt collection case and after the court hearing when I was awarded costs the solicitor messed about for over two years then at a day's notice disappeared "to another firm" witho ut giving any contact details. The Senior partner did the same. I eventually tracked down the latter who sent me an abusive letter and told me he wanted yet more money just to return my lost file. The whole case is one of repeated delays, failure to act on instruction (repeatedly even after confirmation requested)
and no final result. I have had to track down the senior partner myself. Disgraceful

I run an online company offering legal services in civil law. Our fees are a fraction of what solicitors charge, typically £250.00 per hour. I had a case where the opposition presented a bill of £8500.00. The District Judge knocked that down to £3750. Solicitors are on their way out. The public are getting wise to these people who have a licence to print money.

Sometimes the person using a solicitor is a total scumbag and uses them unnecessarily just to "scare" another innocent person, and in those cases I am very glad the client is getting shafted financially.

£190 an hour is a little high for routine work such as straightforward probate unless you insist on using a large London firm. Ring around for a few more estimates but make sure the firm you choose has someone who understands probate and family law. Not many solicitors are experts in more that a few areas of law.

The OP's experience of a £10k estimate becoming a £35k bill is not unusual. If ever you feel that a solicitor has overcharged you, apply to have his bill 'taxed' by the court. Beware that this is not without some risk and you could end up paying yet more fees.

And as for some contributors believing that they can act as their own lawyer in anything other that the most simple of cases then they are sadly mistaken. Legal education is only for the brightest of candidates and ongoing training is arduous , taking many years to complete.

You are not going to achieve this by simply reading a 'do it yourself' book and looking up a few references on Google!

The oft-repeated phrase "A man who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client" is very true and I have, unfortunately, seen many examples of this.

It's on the high side but it's not out of line with what others charge, particularly if this is a London law practice.

I have just been quoted £190 per hour (plus vat, of course) for the setting up and administration of a Power of Attorney and amendment of Wills. Is this reasonable? Or can solicitors charge what they like? I am now in the position where if I were to change solicitors I still have the original charges of £190 (plus vat) to pay for the work already done and set up in preparation. As we all know the Law Society acts for the legal professon and there is no recommended tariff. All that is left conveniently vague. Interesting for a profession which prides itself on its meticulous attention to detail: well that's what we are led to believe.

Visiting a solicitor is absolute bollocks....if you beleive in your case and have a decent grasp of the English lanuage you can fight anyone in a court of law this is especially true under employment law.....society dictates that if your in a 'spot of bother' you need a solicitor....this may be true in criminal law where a solicitor only steps in as a glorified administrator and witness to police manipulation and corruption.....other than that what do they do?......answer= rip you off and drag cases through to leave you potless....law is a matter of interpretation, key facts and who you can persuade....law is open to abuse and corruption within the court system anyway......why waste money?

Bully for your practice. The one we went to said they offered a free intro session. My other half went to this and then they charged him and we had to complain! Didn't find out about the charge til quite a bit later though otherwise we would have switched.

I disagree that an hour is plenty. You are only chatting to them, giving them the background and not a lot else. That is no indicator of how 'on your side' or working within their capabilities they will be during conflict? Or maybe our provincial solcitor was just outgunned by a top London law firm?

At our firm we offer a free half hour interview, but invariably these are more like an hour, for which we do not charge. This should be more than adequate for most potential clients to judge whether or not the solicitor is going to give them good service.