How do you find a really good solicitor?

[JuanPotatoTwo]

My friend is going through the most horrendous time. Her h of 20 odd years seems intent on behaving as nastily as he can towards her. She has seen a solicitor who, from what I can tell, seemed uninterested in looking out for her, and more interested in sewing things up as easily as he could. She lives a way away from me and has no real friends nearby - she really needs someone who's going to fight her corner.

She was reluctant to consult a solicitor in the first place and this experience has compounded her reluctance. But if she doesn't get some help, her h is going to shaft her completely. How best can she find someone? Tia.

Recommendation is often a good way.

I must say that in family disputes even if teh client wants someone fighting for them that is usually the worst thing a solicitor can do. The aim should be to compromise in such as way both sides feel badly done to and deal with it as quickly as possible otherwise you can spend as much money on lawyers as you are arguing over.

What the gist of what she has offered to settle for and what he has offered back? Eg if she is the higher earner like I was she may be offering him a settlement at over half their assets and vice versa. Or may be he has lots of money he is hiding but there is not enough money to pay to trace it or whatever?

Thank you for your answer Greengrow. He basically isn't willing to make any concessions at all - is lying about everything, has stopped giving her any money at all (despite fact she still has 1 dc at home), is spending money (which he claims not to have any of) on jewellery and holidays for ow, cosmetic treatments for himself etc. If I didn't know my friend so well I would be totally disbelieving of the things she tells me he's doing.

Is she giving him money? the law is gender neutral - pl;enty of wives when they split up are paying out to husbands. May be part of the answer is your friend getting a better or a second job so she can pay her husband some maintenance rather than expecting him to keep her.

However if she cannot keep herself and he can she can get interim maintenance unless he has hidden his money before and pending the divorce. She does not need a solicitor for that if she cannot afford it. She can make the application herself.

For most of the time their 3 dc were growing up she was a sahm. It was difficult for her to find a decent job as she'd been out of work since first dc was born, plus her dh worked away from Monday to Friday. About two years ago she got a job as a dinner lady and has been trying since to find something better. But she lives in quite a deprived town and jobs are hard to come by. He's left her in a lot of trouble :(

She will need a solicitor I think because he's lying about having no money. He also says he's lost his job and ow is keeping him. I'll tell her about trying to get interim maintenance by I think she needs proper serious help now, it's obvious he has no intention of playing fair.

I've seen another fred where the OP (going through a divorce herself) had a really ineffectual solicitor at first, but found a total rottweiler through a Women's Aid one-stop shop.

And, no, concessions and mediation is not always the way to go. I think it always has to be attempted but, depending on the parties, it can be deemed unsuitable for mediation.

If he's hiding assets, a rottweiler can find them.

Thanks for further replies. No, I don't think she's legal aided. She's in the south west if anyone knows of anyone - I figured recommendation would be the best way for her to find someone, but that doesn't seem to have worked so far. Going through women's aid is a good call, I'll suggest that to her. Thanks again.

Thanks baby, have mentioned them to her.

She good also look at one of the legal profession guides such as Chambers to see if any local firms are recommended.

Thanks cat, will pass that on. Solicitor she saw the other day said only route friend could take was to file for divorce and ask for higher percentage of equity as a one off settlement. But that would mean her h wd walk away with a divorce, no mortgage, no maintenance to pay, no bills and a lump sum. That doesn't sound very fair to me.