Frequently asked questions

You will need to discuss the precise arrangement with your solicitor, but under a ‘no win no fee’ agreement, you will not have to pay your solicitor for his/her time should your claim not succeed.

You will, however, have to pay any other incurred costs (such as court fees or the fee for a medical report). These are normally known as disbursements.

If your case fails it is likely that the court will say that you will have to pay the costs of the other side. However, your solicitor should be able to arrange insurance to cover both the disbursements and the other side's costs if you lose your claim.

You will need to discuss the precise arrangement with your solicitor, but under a ‘no win no fee’ agreement, you will not have to pay your solicitor for his/her time should your claim not succeed.

After The Event insurance only applies when your solicitor is working under a 'no win no fee' agreement. It is arranged by your solicitor to cover both sides' costs if your claim fails.

For more information, see no win, no fee arrangements.

The Forces legal network can advise.

The Forces Legal Network is a national association of independent firms of solicitors with recognised experience of service personnel with legal problems both connected with service life and generally. 

Phone +44 (0)845 601 1260.

Before The Event insurance (also known as Legal Expenses Insurance) covers legal costs for certain types of claims.

This type of insurance is commonly associated with car insurance and household contents insurance. It is often added to these polices at no cost, or for a few pounds.

If you need access to legal services and have Before The Event insurance you should consider using this rather than some other form of funding (such as a ‘no win no fee' agreement). Your solicitor can advise you the best course of action.

Your employer, Trade Union, or any other body that you belong to (such as a sports club) may also have arranged insurance. If you believe you may be covered by such insurance you should talk to the appropriate body and take any relevant insurance documents when you go to see your solicitor.

For more information about legal fees see Paying for legal services.

Contact the Directories Unit for information.

Publications include:

• The Law Society's Directory of Solicitors and Barristers
• Law Society Gazette Legal Services Directory
• Charity & Appeals Directory
• Spring Legacy Appeals Directory

For more information see our Advertise page

The Gazette advertising team will be able to advise.

For details on how to advertise your services and products in the Gazette in print and online, please contact the advertising team on 020 7841 5541 or by email to gazette-advertising@lawsociety.org.uk or visit the advertising information on the Gazette's website

Some solicitors offer advice on a pro bono basis.

If you do not qualify for free legal aid, it may be possible to arrange for a solicitor to act for you as part of pro bono work. This is work which a solicitor carries out without charging a fee. This work is done by many solicitors as a service to the community to ensure access to justice for the less well off.

For more information about pro bono work see the LawWorks website, which is run by the Solicitors Pro Bono Group.

Use the Law Society directory.

Please note that The Law Society is not able to recommend a particular firm or solicitor but we do provide a directory of all licensed solicitors in the UK and Wales.

Finding a list of solicitors in your area is easy using the Law Society's Find a solicitor facility. Think carefully about what type of service you need, and choose from the options available to narrow your search.

Find a solicitor to help with your application.

Use our online Find a solicitor search facility to search for a legal professional. If you need to get British Citizen status select 'Immigration and nationality' from the drop down list showing areas of law when searching for a firm.

To find more information about Citizenship generally and the rights and responsibilities it carries visit the Citizenship Foundation, an educational charity promoting wider understanding of the law at  www.citfou.org.uk.

Contact ombudsman services.

Ombudsman schemes handle complaints which cannot not be resolved directly with the government department. Contact Government, Parliamentary and Health Service ombudsman's office at www.ombudsman.org.uk.

Visit the main government website for information at www.direct.gov.uk. 

Conditional fee agreement is the technical name for what is more commonly known as 'no win no fee'.

For certain types of case, including personal injury, your solicitor may be prepared to work on a conditional fee basis. Under these arrangements, if you win the case, your solicitor's fees will mostly be paid by the other side. If you lose, you don't have to pay your solicitor's fees. You may be asked to take out an insurance policy to pay for the other side's costs if you lose.

There are various types of conditional fee arrangement, but not all solicitors' firms are prepared to work on this basis.

For more information, see no win no fee arrangements.

Solicitor’s can’t provide general advice but INQUEST may be able to help.

INQUEST is an advice, support and campaigning organisation. They cover a variety of issues including deaths in police and prison custody, the coroners court system, deaths in psychiatric and special hospitals, deaths at work and deaths involving issues of public heath and safety.

INQUEST works with a group of sympathetic solicitors and barristers who may offer free/reduced cost legal help.

E-mail: inquest@compuserve.com.

This is available from the Law Society bookshop.

The directory can be ordered direct via the Law Society Bookshop online:

Directory of Solicitors and Barristers

The Equality and Human Rights Commission can help.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission works towards the elimination of racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between different racial groups. It takes on some cases, and refers on those for which it does not have the resources. Usually the referrals are to law centres.

Find out more at the commission's website - www.equalityhumanrights.com.

There are solicitors who specialise in independent financial advice.

Some solicitors specialise in providing clients with independent financial advice. Information about this service is available from  Solicitors for Independent Financial Advice.

You can also use our online Find a solicitor search facility. Select 'taxation' as the area of law.

It may count - consult your training principal.

Some trainees may have worked in a legal environment and gained equivalent experience before starting a training contract.

Your training principal has discretion to recognise relevant prior experience and take this time into account in order to reduce the period of the training contract. This is known as time to count.

See www.sra.org.uk/students for details.

Not at present.

There is currently no expiry on the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and registration of a training contract.

If you intend to take a lengthy break after completing the LPC, you should contact the Solicitors Regulation Authority for any proposed changes to the Regulations.

See www.sra.org.uk/students for details.

There are a range of legal and support services you can contact.

If you are threatened by domestic violence, a solicitor can advise you about legal action to protect you, any children, and your home. Use our online Find a solicitor search facility. Choose 'Family' from the options for area of law.

Emergency help and out-of-hours services include the following:

• Solicitors - many have out-of-hours telephone services
• Refuge - the 24 hour national crisis line: telephone 020 8995 4430
• Women's Aid Federation of England - www.womensaid.org.uk
• The emergency services - telephone 999

Other specialist services:

• The government's community legal service - www.justask.org.uk
• General information at www.homeoffice.gov.uk

You will need to find legal assistance in your destination country.

Our page about legal help abroad will help you find a lawyer outside of England and Wales.

British citizens may also approach the British High Commission in the country you wish to emigrate to. Embassy locations and details can be found on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website.

Other resources:

www.martindale.com - a directory of lawyers throughout the world.

Environmental Law foundation and The United Kingdom Environmental Law Association.

The Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) is dedicated to helping people make use of the law to protect and improve the environment. ELF can put you in contact with legal and technical members in your area www.elflaw.org.

The United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA) comprises a number of regional goups of specialist environmental solicitors and barristers.

Go to: www.ukela.org