Monday, March 18, 2013

What a solicitor can do for you if you are threatened by legal action

By David Parkinson


Most of us have an odd relationship with the law. In most cases we barely take any notice of it, even though it does affect all our lives. However, on those occasions when we come into direct contact with it, it can seem cumbersome, unforgiving and under the influence of the rich or the powerful. However, justice is really at the heart of the legal system in Britain and that does not rely on wealth or power. It relies on lawyers. When we think of lawyers, we are usually thinking of solicitors. These days there is very little difference between solicitors and advocates, or barristers, but there was a time when the two professions were quite different. Solicitors engaged with clients, who they would meet face to face and, if the case went to court, they would do the groundwork and research for the advocate who would present your case in court. Now the law has changed and solicitors are able to present the case if they wish.

The main tasks of a solicitor is to use their legal expertise to advise their clients. They usually meet their clients face to face and discuss in detail all the legal aspects of their questions. The usual kinds of issues dealt with by a solicitor fall in to these categories: Conveyancing, Personal injury claims, Criminal law, Employment law, Divorce or Family law, Immigration law, Commercial law and Wills and Probates. As you can see this covers a very wide range of topics and many lawyers will specialise in a particular legal subject. Also you will see from this list that some relate to the legal relationship between the individual and the state (criminal law and Immigration law, for example) and some focus on the way the law influences our relationships with others ( family law and commercial law for instance).

Some services offered by high street lawyer are fairly straight forward. Conveyancing, which is the legal process by which property can be bought, is something that most of us have some experience of and solicitors are often involved in the reading and execution of Wills. It is not uncommon for solicitors to get involved in divorce law and family law. In these instances, they can sometimes act as mediators who know the legal pitfalls of the various options available to their clients. In every case they act according to their clients wishes and have their client's best interests at heart.

A lawyer can also help if you are in legal conflict with a large company or employer. There are plenty of specialists in employment law, who can advise you if you feel you have been unfairly dismissed or that your employer has treated you badly. They are often also consulted over the rules surrounding redundancy and maternity rights.

Personal injury claims can involve claims for damages against an employer, insurance company or an individual. It is always wise to consult with a lawyer in these cases, as the law in this area is always changing. Also, if you are claiming against a company or insurers, they will undoubtedly employ their own specialist lawyers who will be trying to reduce any pay out to the minimum.

Lawyers can also help you if you find yourself at odds with the authorities. In criminal cases, you are entitled to legal advice from the moment a police officer arrests you, or the point at which you arrive at the police station. It will be provided free of charge if you can not afford it and it is really important that you receive it, as anything you say once arrested could be used against you, if the case goes to court. Because Immigration law is so complicated there are expert lawyers who deal only with these kinds of cases. The law in the UK has evolved over centuries and has become very complicated. Much of what a lawyer does is keeping up with the current changes and researching their cases to find any legal precedents.

Whilst lawyers, like all professions, can be seen as a gang who just look after themselves, they do uphold fundamental freedoms in a democracy. Firstly they ensure that everyone, regardless of money or power, has access to good legal advice and can be protected by the law. The way civil law is pursued by lawyers has a direct influence over how we interact with each other and ensures that companies can not abuse their workers, retailers uphold consumer rights and insurance companies or negligent businesses pay compensation to those they have hurt. The law is a maze of complex and sometimes conflicting legislation. Lawyers help to keep the whole system accessible and relevant.




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