Choosing the Right Lawyer: Practical Checks for Clients

Introduction

Picking a lawyer is more than choosing a name on a website. It is about value, clarity on costs, who will actually do the work, and whether you can work well together. In England and Wales, many cases involve both solicitors and barristers, different funding options (including legal aid), and varying levels of seniority within a firm. This guide turns common concerns into practical steps so you can choose with confidence and avoid costly surprises.

What You'll Learn

• How to weigh price against value and results
• How to confirm who will handle your case day to day
• What to ask about fees, estimates, and legal aid
• How to check real specialism and track record
• How the choice of advocate works (solicitor-advocate vs barrister)
• How to assess communication style and client care
• Key questions to ask before you sign terms
• A concise checklist and quick reference table

Core Concepts

Price vs Value: Don’t rely on cost alone

• High fees do not guarantee quality. Some firms charge premium rates without a strong record in your type of case.
• Ask for specific, recent examples of similar work (anonymised where needed). Generic claims are not enough.
• Check whether the firm’s reputation rests largely on the barristers they instruct rather than their own in-house preparation.
• Look for objective quality markers where relevant (e.g., accreditations, reported cases, peer recognition). Treat glossy marketing with caution.

Questions to ask:

• What similar cases have you run in the last two years?
• What outcome patterns have you seen in those cases?
• Who will draft key documents and prepare evidence?

Who will actually handle my case?

• Senior partners often supervise, but much of the day-to-day work may be done by junior solicitors, trainees, or caseworkers.
• This is not necessarily a bad thing if there is clear supervision and a plan that uses time efficiently.
• You are entitled to know the team structure, who your main contact is, and how supervision works.

Questions to ask:

• Will the named senior lawyer personally run my case or supervise a junior?
• Who is my day-to-day contact and how quickly will they respond?
• How is work allocated between the team to keep costs sensible?

Fees, Estimates and Legal Aid

• Solicitors must give clear information on costs and the most cost-effective way to run your case. That does not oblige them to act under legal aid.
• Get a written estimate with the scope of work, hourly rates, VAT, likely disbursements (e.g., experts, counsel), and assumptions.
• Litigation can change. For example, a single-defendant matter can become a multi-defendant case, increasing hearings and disclosure work. Build in review points.

Questions to ask:

• Do you hold a Legal Aid Agency contract for this type of case?
• What are your hourly rates and typical disbursements?
• What events could change the estimate, and how will you flag that?
• Can we agree stage budgets and a cap before you seek approval to exceed it?

Specialism and Real Experience

• Many firms say they specialise; fewer can show consistent work in a specific area (e.g., sexual offences, fraud, regulatory, extradition).
• Check the website for detail, not just slogans. Ask for anonymised examples and recent results in your type of case.
• If you know someone who has used a firm for a similar matter, ask about their experience.

Questions to ask:

• How many [your case type] have you run recently?
• What typical strategies do you use in this area?
• Will you handle the key stages yourselves or brief out most work?

Choosing the Advocate: In-house or Barrister

• Some solicitors handle advocacy themselves; others instruct an external barrister. Both routes can work well.
• Have a say in who speaks for you in court. Long-standing relationships are common, but quality varies.
• Be realistic: a top King’s Counsel is unlikely to appear in a low-level case on legal aid at a magistrates’ court. Aim for the right level of seniority for the complexity and forum.

Questions to ask:

• Will you propose two or three counsel options with CVs and fees?
• Can I meet or speak to counsel before we confirm instructions?
• If advocacy is in-house, what is the advocate’s experience at this level?

Working Relationship and Communication

• You need someone you can speak to openly, who answers plainly and invites your input when decisions matter.
• Check their approach to updates, calls, emails, and turnaround times.
• Confidence matters: do they explain next steps clearly and set expectations about risks and timeframes?

Questions to ask:

• How often will you update me and by what method?
• What is your target response time for messages?
• How will you involve me in key decisions and document review?

Key Examples or Case Studies

1) Premium price, average service

A client picked a top-priced firm for a mid-level fraud investigation. The named partner appeared at the pitch but a junior handled almost everything. The barrister did the heavy lifting. Fees were high, yet preparation errors crept in. A local niche firm later reviewed the file and delivered tighter case management at lower cost. Lesson: focus on who actually does the work and how it is supervised, not just the brand.

2) Costs increase after the case expands

A single-defendant case was joined with five other defendants after further arrests. Disclosure volumes grew, new legal issues arose, and there were extra hearings. The solicitor updated the costs estimate with reasons and options: reduce scope, seek fixed-fee stages, or apply for legal aid (where eligible). Lesson: ask for clear triggers for revising estimates and agree decision points before costs escalate.

3) The barrister mismatch

A client wanted a leading KC for an assault charge at a magistrates’ court on legal aid. This was unrealistic. The solicitor proposed two experienced juniors who regularly appear in that court and know the local listing practices. The client chose one after a short call and achieved a sensible outcome. Lesson: push for choice and a proper explanation of options, but match seniority to the case and forum.

Practical Applications

• Build a shortlist

  • Use the Law Society’s “Find a Solicitor”, personal recommendations, and firms with clear experience in your case type.
  • Check the firm is SRA-regulated and, if needed, holds a Legal Aid Agency contract for your area of law.

• Ask the right questions early

  • Who will be my day-to-day contact? Who supervises them?
  • What similar cases have you handled recently?
  • What is your proposed strategy for the first 4–8 weeks?

• Get written costs information

  • Hourly rates, VAT, disbursements (experts, counsel, travel), and when these are incurred.
  • A stage-by-stage estimate with assumptions and triggers for revision.
  • Ask for a costs cap or approval threshold before extra work is started.

• Clarify funding

  • Check eligibility for legal aid and whether the firm can act under that scheme.
  • If private, ask about fixed fees for defined stages where suitable.
  • Confirm how counsel’s fees are handled and approved.

• Agree the advocacy plan

  • If external counsel is proposed, ask for at least two options with experience summaries and fee ranges.
  • Request a short call with counsel before confirmation.
  • If in-house advocacy is suggested, ask for the advocate’s recent cases at the same court level.

• Test the working relationship

  • Arrange an initial meeting or call. Even 15 minutes can tell you a lot about clarity and rapport.
  • Notice whether your questions are answered plainly and whether you are encouraged to contribute.

• Confirm in writing

  • Ask for a client care letter setting out scope, team, rates, and service standards.
  • Request a timetable for the first milestones and a communication plan.

• Keep control

  • Ask for regular updates and prompt notice of any change in scope or costs.
  • Review key documents (statements, instructions to experts or counsel) before they go out.
  • Remember: you are the client. It is your case.

Summary Checklist

• Value over price: ask for recent, relevant case examples
• Team clarity: know who does what and how it is supervised
• Costs: written estimate, disbursements, VAT, and triggers for revision
• Funding: legal aid eligibility and whether the firm can act under it
• Specialism: real experience in your case type, not just marketing lines
• Advocate choice: have input; match seniority to forum and complexity
• Communication: clear updates, response times, and involvement in decisions
• Paperwork: client care letter, scope, service standards, and timetable

Quick Reference