Solicitor — family law, conveyancing and contracts
Good legal help is specific: family law, landlord and tenant, employment and commercial law are separate worlds, and the right solicitor is the one who works in yours every week. Expect £150–£350/hr for an experienced solicitor, with central London firms charging well above that. Much routine work is quoted fixed: a simple will runs £150–600, and an uncontested divorce application £400–1,500 plus the court fee.
Anyone advising you should be a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, a barrister registered with the Bar Standards Board, or a legal executive regulated by CILEx Regulation. All three registers are searchable online, all three carry compulsory professional indemnity insurance, and client money is protected by the SRA Compensation Fund.
On Marketit you'll find law firms that are manually vetted and well rated. Describe the matter in the chat and you'll get several proposals from solicitors in the right practice area, without ringing round.
Price level
SEK 1,500–2,800/hr excl. VAT with a lawyer, SEK 2,500–4,500/hr with an advocate. Fixed prices common for wills, cohabitation agreements and divisions of assets.
When should you hire a solicitor?
Before a divorce or separation, during probate, when writing a will or trust, when buying or selling property, in employment disputes and settlement agreements, when going into business with others, or as soon as the other side sends a letter before action.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using an online template for a will. Two witnesses must be present at the same time and take nothing under the will — a formality error voids the whole thing, usually discovered after a death.
- Waiting until the dispute has escalated. Most legal expenses policies require notification before proceedings start, and pre-action protocols expect an early letter.
- Not asking for a fixed fee on routine work. Wills, conveyancing, company formation and uncontested applications are commonly quoted fixed.
- Ignoring the difference between a regulated solicitor and an unregulated 'legal adviser'. Only the regulated route gives you the Legal Ombudsman and the SRA Compensation Fund.
- Signing an engagement with no cap and no duty to warn you before the estimate is exceeded.
Checklist before you hire
- Check the firm and the individual on the SRA's Find a Solicitor register
- Confirm the practice area — ask how many matters like yours they handled in the past year
- Ask for a client care letter setting out fees, scope and the complaints route
- Agree whether the work is hourly, fixed fee or a damages-based agreement, and what disbursements are extra
- Check whether your home, motor or bank account includes legal expenses insurance
- Confirm who does the work — partner, associate, trainee or paralegal — and each charge-out rate
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a solicitor, a barrister and a legal executive?
A solicitor handles advice, documents and most day-to-day work and is regulated by the SRA. A barrister is usually instructed by your solicitor for advocacy in the higher courts and specialist opinions. A chartered legal executive is qualified in a specific area and regulated by CILEx Regulation. All three are on public registers and all three are covered by the Legal Ombudsman.
Does my insurance cover legal fees?
Often, and people forget to check. Home and motor policies commonly include legal expenses cover of £50,000–100,000, and some bank accounts add it too. Cover is subject to a prospects-of-success test and the insurer usually picks the firm at the outset. Notify them before you instruct anyone — instructing first frequently forfeits cover.
Can I write my own will?
You can, but the formalities under the Wills Act are unforgiving: it must be in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two people present at the same time who receive nothing under it. Marriage revokes an earlier will unless it says otherwise. A straightforward will from a solicitor is £150–400, and far cheaper than a contested estate.
Do I need a solicitor to buy a house?
Yes in practice. A conveyancing solicitor or licensed conveyancer handles searches, the contract, the Land Registry application and Stamp Duty Land Tax, and a mortgage lender will insist on one. Budget £800–1,800 plus disbursements for a freehold purchase, with leasehold and new build at the higher end.
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