Would you be happy to deal with me?

[tartanbunnet]

This is not really an AIBU just interested in views. I am a conveyancing paralegal - have been for many years and did the qualification at Uni, although to be fair it wasn't that useful as I knew most of the stuff already. I live in Scotland and due to recent legislation changes the job seems to be getting harder and harder, however, I am up to speed with all this and if I am not sure of anything I always ask my boss or I get him to phone clients. I am very good at my job (not a boast) and my boss has told me that I'm actually better than an awful lot of solicitors. I see transactions through from beginning to end with minimal supervisions and always do my best. My question is, would you be happy to deal with me or would you prefer always to speak to a solicitor. I basically got shouted at by a client the other day before things were not going the way he wanted (nothing to do with me and in actual fact I managed to sort the issue by doing the other solicitor's work from him and resolved the issue. No thanks for client and he was unwilling to speak to me and only wanted to speak to his lawyer, which I kind of understand but I basically got accused of messing about and holding things up (not true) and have kept him up to date all always and told him I wasn't sure thing could be resolved if the other solicitor didn't pull him finger out. Thoughts would be appreciated.

If I've come to see a sollicitor, I want to see a fully qualified sollicitor.

But then again I'm also that person that doesn't deal with physician-assistants or practice assistants and won't be fobbed off with people in training.

If I am paying solicitor rates I want to be seen/talked to by a solicitor. Would you pay same for a treatment from hygienist if you booked a dentist appointment?

Well if I was paying for a solicitors services and my case was being overseen by what is essentially an admin person, yes, I'd be pretty pissed off.

I'd be happy to deal with you.

I'm also happy to deal with assistants in most areas of life, at least to start with until I can gauge if things are too complicated and require someone more experienced.

If everyone had that attitude of idong none would ever be able to complete training or gain expertise. With public sector services it would also take up more time from people who could be dealing with more relevant issues. Eh GPs when a nurse would do. My mother has that attitude too and it drives me batty.

I like to give people a chance.

Plus I bet your hourly rate is lower

Oh I wouldn't expect to be billed a solicitors rate though!

I'd be happy to deal with the most knowledgeable and professional person, who is going to get the job done the quickest.

However, I would assume that would be the solicitor I'm paying solicitor's rates to.

Interesting views and I kind of get it - it's not that people don't get to see the solicitor and all the mail goes out in his name, it's just that I do all of the work - he signs all the letters. I have to say the vast majority of people are happy to deal with me and in fact I get people who would rather speak to me because they assume the solicitor is too busy to answer all their questions.

Plus I bet your hourly rate is lower

Yes, given the option to pay less and have someone else deal with you if the issue is straightforward, would be a good way to go.

There are always going to be people who wont even entertain speaking to you so dont take it to heart , i would try and deal with my problem through you first and if i wasnt happy go higher i like to give everyone a chance

In a very straightforward situation I’d be happy to deal with you but would you have the expertise to spot all potential issues or deal with complicated areas of property law? Who would you refer to when you hit a snag?

A friend is a conveyancing solicitor and deals with some stupidly complex situations. She also carries the can for any errors and also for those made by other legal teams in the past. Are you ok with that?

For the pp who ’ won’t be fobbed off with people in training.’ aren’t you a treat? Did you emerge into the world as a fully qualified and experienced professional? A supervised trainee is often for more invested in producing good work than a bored but qualified individual.

Many people who think they're paying a solicitor to do their conveyancing seem unaware that nearly all of the work is actually done by paralegals.
When I speak to an organisation I generally prefer to try and suss out who's actually making things happen, and talk to them.Job titles don't always mean a lot.
That old saying " Who would you rather speak to; the person in charge, or the person who knows what's going on?"

From a conveyancer, I'm looking for prompt competent action, sufficient experience, prompt replies, and solid liability insurance.

For clarification the clients are charge solicitor's fees and they assume that all the letters and correspondence come from him and he does check all of my work so it is always done properly. On the plus side because I do all my own typing everything is done really quickly because there is no aspect of dictating letters and getting a secretary to type them. I would say I have a really good rapport with 90% of my clients but I hear what you are all saying. At the end of the day most people just want their work done properly and as efficient as possible.

Sorry, I thought you were interested in going it alone, rather than just questioning your current position. I’d happily deal with you if you were sensible, responsive and knowledgeable.

As PP have pointed out, the rates you're charging are really going to make a difference here. Clients paying solicitor's rates to deal with a paralegal? Not really on.

No, I wouldn't be happy to be paying for a lawyer and then find out an underqualified person who thinks she's just as good as a lawyer was actually doing the work.
I'm sure you are very good at your job so no offence to you, but I would feel ripped off and would not be happy.

Yes as long as the job was getting done I would be happy. I'll often say I'm happy to see the trainee/assistant as a first step because they seem to have more time to actually listen and will pass on anything they can't deal with.
If I felt I was getting a poorer service I'd push for the next level.

Re "I don't get fobbed off with trainees"
How do you expect people to learn their job then? If everybody took your stance we'd end up with no qualified professionals left wouldn't we?

MatildaTheCat if someone phones and I feel that their issue would be better explained by my boss I pass it on. To be fair I have dealt with quite a few complex cases but I always ask advice if I am unsure - it's not in anyone's interests if I make an error. In all the year I have been doing the job I have never had a single complaint - the issue the other day was basically frustration I think on the client's part. I appreciate moving house is acceptable. I passed him on to the solicitor who told him exactly what I had told him.

We used a conveyancing solicitor in recent times where we actually dealt with the paralegal more often than him. I never really questioned it in all honesty, and we had no issues with our sale / purchase. As long as the work is done correctly and in the time required I have no issues.

I’d happily deal with you. BUT not at soliciter’s rates. I work in an architecture practice, and we charge less for architectural technicians than architects. If dealing with you, I would expect an invoice broken down with, for example, 5 hours of your time, and 1 hour of solicitor’s time (for checking your work).

How would a client know if you ar good/bad at your job? You are saying he was already unhappy with the service, calling your office in distress. Not being able to speak to your solicitor that charges you fees is just adding insult to injury. I (personally) would be really pissed off.

While I don't question your competence, I would expect a lower rate to reflect the fact that work was being done by a paralegal and only overseen by a solicitor. Especially if your firm is essentially saving money by having you type your own letters etc.

Idontdo - I'm always happy to see a GP trainee at the surgery. They tend to have fresh view points on longstanding problems and are more likely to be aware of the most recent advances in medicine.

Practice nurses usually do a lot of similar minor procedures so are very efficient at them. Do you seriously expect a fully qualified GP to take your blood each time you need a blood test?

Conveyancing is a strange part of the legal system where you can be as qualified - if not more so - than a solicitor.

I was a Licensed Conveyancer. I charged the same as other solicitors in the department.

Unless your solicitor is a one person band ,with no employees, you're paying for a paralegal to do the straightforward conveyancing.
Ask your solicitor what they charge per hour. , for non- conveyancing work. The average conveyancing would run into several thousands if it were all done by a solicitor.

It would be like saying, medical treatment is done by a GP, so only a GP can do my child's vaccinations.

RepealMay25th As I mentioned previously I would never do anything I wasn't sure about and all of my work is check and signed off by a solicitor. Paralegals are becoming more respected as qualified professionals and most of the big firms use them to do their conveyancing. The thing is if the solicitor is unavailable I can answer any queries and I answer all of my e-mails straight away so in actual fact the clients are getting a better service than they would get from a solicitor.