To be pissed off with my solicitor

[TartWithTheCart35]

Only just started divorce proceedings so saw my solicitor for the first time middle of sept. Stbxh received divorce papers last week.

So I rung my sol up today to make an app regarding the financial disclosure to be told she has gone on adoption leave until Feb!! My details have been passed to another sol and her secretary was surprised she didn't tell me!

I'm so pissed off because this sol was recommended to me and she has said we will try and get you x,y and z in the settlement, well that might not happen now and dealing with someone different.

I've made an app to see new sol that's taken on my case. But we're do I stand if I dont rate him as I've paid a deposit? Could I get that back?

My original sol seemed like she would really fight for me. Feel so gutted now.

[PotteringAlong]

You're pissed off that, after the long and laborious process to adopt a baby, your solicitor has been placed with a child and has gone off on leave to start her family? And they haven't left you in the lurch but transferred your work within the practice?

[PotteringAlong]

Also, it's November. Wait 3 months if you're that bothered, surely?

[hotbutteredcrumpetsandtea]

You met her once, you hardly had an irreplaceble relationship with her! The new one will do just the same.
She should have told you, but that is all.

[LemonShark]

Can't always predict exactly when an adoption will go through. YABVU.

[Wolfiefan]

You're pissed off she's taken leave that she's entitled to take? Would you be similarly pissed if it was maternity leave or she had simply left?

[Oddmanout]

You've instructed the firm, not the solicitor.

[TartWithTheCart35]

Sorry, should have been more clearer. It's not adoption leave for a child its to another one of their firms based elsewhere.

If it was for a child then yes of course ibu

[hotbutteredcrumpetsandtea]

It's adoption leave that is not leave or for an adoption?

Wtf are you on about?

[LemonShark]

What?

[Caspiana]

Eh? Adoption leave to another firm?

I don’t think adoption leave means what you think it means.

[unfortunateevents]

How does moving to another office of the firm mean she is on adoption leave?! Do you mean secondment?

If you particularly want to deal with this solicitor, can you not have your case transferred to her in the other office?

[Wolfiefan]

So it's a temporary transfer?
I don't get it. You met this person once. You don't get to dictate their career path.

[PotteringAlong]

So she's not on adoption leave?

[DrPill]

I would have expected your solicitor to tell you she was leaving for a while regardless of the reasons why. A 3 month break is significant, and could have changed your mind. But, divorces often take ages. You could wait until she returns

[Billben]

I agree with OP. She should have told her she was going on leave soon. Whatever leave that was.

[TashaRomanoff]

Why do I feel you're lying and she has gone on adoption leave for a child

[biffyboom]

Maybe op means her solicitor has gone to another firm to cover somebody else's adoption leave, or is on secondment?

[TartWithTheCart35]

That's what her secretary called it...adoption leave to another firm!!

I'm not saying I have the right to dictate her career path. However she was highly recommended by a couple of people and I have a H that will happily leave me and our DC with the scraps of his plate if he could, that's why I chose her.

But thanks for the replies.

[Viviennemary]

Never heard of this term adoption leave used in this way. Terribly unprofessional of the whole firm IMHO. I wouldn't have a lot of faith in them now. I think you should get your deposit returned but I expect the small print will say you can't. Report them to the Law Society. Not that it will do much good as they always stick up for their own.

[ringle]

secondment to another firm maybe?

[Fatbird71]

If it WAS adoption leave, you only know it's definitely going to happen two weeks(ish) before the leave starts. Having adopted twice, you get into the position where your employer gets cover in for you even when you don't definitely know you are going to get an approval at matching panel.
Thankfully we were approved so it didn't matter.

[Oddmanout]

Law Society don't stick up for firms, if anything they want to be seen to punish firms to maintain public confidence.

Firms don't want the fallout from complaints - just write an email saying your unhappy because you only wanted her etc and want your money back - likewise they won't want a complaining client so they'll refund you and let you go after offering you an alternative solicitor.

[rainandfire]

Have already said this today but solicitors are there to make money not be your mate.

[Badbadbunny]

You can't expect that staff will always be the same. People move on and are relocated. It happens. Sounds like the firm have made alternative arrangements. You're not being left in the lurch. First things first - meet the new one and see what they're like. You may be worrying over nothing.

[TartWithTheCart35]

I have a meeting with the new sol next week but if I'm not happy then I will see about getting my refund back.

But is my contract with the firm or sol? I will have to read the small print and see where I stand.

Her secratery could understand why she had not sent me a letter to inform me. Yes it does seem unprofessional. But like you say, they are only bothered about my money and this has just proved that really.