To ask you to help me settle a debate

[StrawberryCrunch]

Maybe a bit of an odd one but...

Would you think it's okay to walk into a solicitors office and expect to see a solicitor there and then?

I think this is ridiculous and that you should make appointments if you want to discuss something of a legal nature with a solicitor and my friend thinks it's perfectly fine and no one would understand to do otherwise.

I don't think I'd ever just walk into something like a solicitors office, accountants office etc... And expect to be seen without at least calling ahead.

Friend says it's not like a GP because everyone knows you have to make an appointment there so unless it's specifically pointed out, most people will think it's fine to do so.

Apparently it's nothing alike.
It isn’t. I wish my lawyer was as cheap and way to see as my doctor.

I might visit the offices of either in the hope of getting an appointment but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were too busy.

I assume those same.people also don't want to pay for your time as they "only just popped in for a quick question"

I work in university admissions and you wouldn’t believe how many people fly over to the UK and just ‘pop in’ expecting an in-depth discussion about applying, plus a campus tour. I didn’t think people would ever be that rude to a professional in any other sector but apparently I was wrong

Familycourt, you do pay for your NHS doctor... Through your NI.

and I have no problem with people coming into the office to make an appointment. It's when they come and expect to be seen right then, with no appointment. Expecting you to just drop everything you're doing.

It is the same as a Dr in that you shouldn't expect to just see them instantly when you've just walked in off the street, because it's literally impossible to manage anything like that. You should make an appointment... Like at your doctor.

I had someone not long ago come in (she hadn't instructed us yet) and say she wanted to see if I was free for a moment so she could 'put a face to me and because it's nice to meet in person'.

She got in a huff because I couldn't just then and asked if she could make an appointment for a later time?!

Just so unrealistic.

Oh dear, another reason to despair of the human race.
It would not occur to me to 'pop in' to a solicitor's office - except to actually make an appointment, of course!

You could walk into a solicitor’s office but it would be remarkable unlikely you’d be seen there and then ! S’ils are more often in court these days, in con, working on existing case files, on site or prison visits etc etc. It’s a remarkable busy day ! You also frankly wouldn’t want to incur costs in an ad hoc way - better to make appointment, make sure you’re seeing someone in the right area, you know what to bring etc.
Obvs if just popping in to get something sworn then could try but still wouldn’t expect to be successful on spec.