Tanya’s ten top tips to help minimize your legal costs Top Tip 8/10 Tell us what works for you.
Last time on this blog, my advice was to make sure you read everything your solicitor sends you. But for some of us, reading doesn’t come all that easily. If reading isn’t your strength, tell your solicitor. We do need to keep a record of conversations, and putting things in correspondence (such as email) can help with costs but if this is not an easy way for your to communicate with us, do let us know. Sometimes writing to you will be the only way but we will adapt as much as possible to your needs, so if using bullet points helps, or phone calls and meetings are better for you, just let us know.
Sometimes it is simply a case of our using a larger font – I once had a client who was very smart, and able to digest what I advised him, provided I used bullet points and larger font. Small things can make a big difference.
Some clients have a trusted friend or relative who can help them read and digest material. This really can work well, provided that person can indeed be trusted to be unbiased and supportive, and that they understand the confidentiality of solicitors’ correspondence. I recognize that for the vast majority of such people, this is certainly the case. For others, a friend or relative may just feel too invested to be neutral enough to allow a client to make independent and empowered decisions.
For another client it was not to send sensitive material to her on a Friday, unless this really was inevitable. This was so that once she has digested my letter, I could be there to speak with her the next day, rather than her having to wait the weekend.
Sometimes you won’t know what works best for you until you are in the situation. Communicating your needs, even if these are changing needs, to your solicitor, will enable us to do our best for you in a way that works for you. As I said, small things can make a big difference.
If you wish to speak with one of our specialist solicitors in confidence please contact us on tel 01622 23 88 54, or by email at info@snslaw.co.uk. If you wish to speak with Tanya or Richard, our family law solicitors, you can call direct on 01622 23 88 54.
Watch this space next week for Top Tip Number Nine.
