This is a 10-minute meeting for me to understand your matter and assess if I can assist you.
There is no charge for this initial conversation.
If I think you would be better going to a full-service law firm, I will be honest and point you in the right direction where I can.
If we decide that I can help you, I will send you a client care letter and my standard terms of business. This outlines the core elements of our agreement, including the services I will provide, the estimated costs, and the expected timeline for completion.
Once you sign and return the client care letter, we’ll enter into a formal agreement, and I will begin work on your matter same day.
My standard hourly rate is £100 (inclusive of VAT), and I can offer a fixed quote based on the estimated work.
The cost of my services is my professional fees and any disbursements I incur (for example: postage or land registry documents).
Throughout the process, we will stay in close communication via email or WhatsApp to ensure you are always up to speed on how things are going.
Typically, I will issue a final invoice upon completion of the work. However, if the matter requires substantial effort over a prolonged period, I may send interim invoices.
At the start of the process, I may request an upfront payment to cover initial expenses.
I am approved by the SRA (Solicitor’s Regulatory Authority) to practise as a freelance solicitor. This means that, whilst I am regulated by the SRA, I am not an authorised legal practice under the definitions of the SRA. I practice under the SRA exemption of a 'freelance solicitor not providing reserved legal services'.
This means that I am:
■ practising on my own, and do not employ anyone else in connection with the services I provide.
■ practising in my own name (rather than under a trading name or through a service company).
■ engaged directly by clients with fees payable directly to me.
SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors (click here to view)
I am not currently registered for VAT so this is not payable. I will notify you if this changes.
I don’t operate a client account. This means I don’t hold funds for you and will only accept money from you in payment for my fees and disbursements.
I practise without indemnity insurance and so you are not protected to the SRA's minimum insurance requirements.
If things go wrong, the maximum you can recover from me is, in relation to that matter only, any fee already paid by you, plus 25% of the agreed fee for that matter, plus any disbursement which you have paid to me.
I am not authorised to advise on the following ‘reserved legal activities’, including Litigation, Probate and Administration of Oaths. More details here: SRA | Firm authorisation | Solicitors Regulation Authority
If things go wrong, the maximum you can recover from me is, in relation to that matter only, any fee already paid by you, plus 25% of the agreed fee for that matter, plus any disbursement which you have paid to me.
Consumers have a 14 day cancellation period and can normally cancel service at any time in the first 14 days without charge. Normally, you will ask me to start providing the service immediately, and so the 14 day cancellation period will not apply.
Instead, you can still cancel, but you will have to pay a reasonable amount for the work I have done in the lead up to cancellation. If you cancel but I have already completed my work for you, you will have to pay my full fee and disbursements.
If you wish to cancel our contract, please use the Model Cancellation Form at Schedule 3 of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013
The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013