Frequently asked questions

Find a solicitor who can help.

If you, a friend or a relative has been injured in an accident that was someone or something else's fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and loss of earnings.

To help you decide whether you can make a claim contact a local solicitor specialising in injury claims. Select 'personal injury' or 'medical negligence' using our Find a solicitor search.

These are subjects that solicitors may focus on in their practice.

Solicitors tell the Solicitors Regulation Authority of the types of work they frequently undertake by completing a questionnaire each year.

They may practice law in one specific area because they have experience of that legal subject or work in a team or department that has that experience.

Many solicitors practice in more than one area. See the Areas of Law page for examples.

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.

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 information on advertising and rates contact the Law Society Directories unit via:

Phone: 020 7841 5423,
Email directory.advertising@lawsociety.org.uk 
Post: Directories Unit, Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane,  London WC2A 1PL.

The Gazette advertising team will be able to advise.

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.

You must be restored to the roll and apply for a new practising certificate.

Returning to practice involves two stages:

1. Complete a Keeping of the Roll Application (KR4). The application costs £20.

The KR4 is available for download from the SRA website.

2. Apply for a practising certificate, via the RF3 form. You can request one by either calling the SRA Contact Centre on 0870 606 2555 or e-mail your request to contactcentre@sra.org.uk.

Following 1 July 2009:

On 1 July 2009 the Solicitors Practising Regulations come into force as result of changes under the Legal Services Act 2007. If any of the paragraphs under regulation 3.1 apply to you then you also will need to use the Reg 3 form available for download from the SRA website or by calling the SRA Contact Centre on 0870 606 2555.

The SRA aims to process 95 per cent of all completed forms within thirty days.

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.

Information about Claims assessors

Claims assessors are business people who handle compensation claims, especially in accident cases.

Further information can be found at the claims regulation website.

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. 

There are various arrangements available.

Conditional fees are more commonly known as a 'no win, no fee' arrangements.

For certain types of case, including personal injury, your solicitor may be prepared to work on a conditional fee basis. 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.

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

Solicitors and other advice services can help.

If you need advice when dealing with schools and education authorities, for example over admissions or if your child has special needs, a solicitor may be able to help you.

For advice concerning education in state-maintained schools, contact the Advisory Centre for Education (ACE). Their helpline number is: 020 7354 8321.

The Children's Legal Centre is a national charity, based at Essex University, offering free advice on all aspects of law affecting children and young people. There is a special advice/advocacy service for children or parents involved in an education dispute in South East England but they will also help with problems outside this area.