Divorce solicitor and retainer fees

[stirling]

How common / normal is this? To charge the 3k as an upfront payment?
What if I don't want to rush the divorce? I'm really feeling pressurised. Only went for advice a couple of months ago and it's turned into a demand for payment upfront.

Also, I went to a domestic violence support group, one stop clinic or something. Told them about Ex 's abusive behaviour hoping for support and all it's turned into is a lot of pestering phonecalls from a solicitor firm in East London pressing me to pay 2k to put an occupancy order in place.

Its all so overwhelming. I just feel that along with my evil ex, everyone just wants money.

It's not unusual for a solicitor to need a payment on account of costs, but it will depend on how much work they'd be expecting to do in a short space of time.

You remain in control of that. Perhaps specify a cost limit, after which they need to come back to you and ask for more money. Set out what you want them to do for you initially and they can cost that. £3000 doesn't seem excessive for an injunction, although there is no upper earnings limit for legal aid for DV injunctions, so perhaps they don't offer Legal Aid.

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful.

I take the point about solicitors not wanting to provide ad hoc advice... That's why I was paying her for a session this week to get the second bit of advice and then decide if/ how to proceed. I'm not expecting free advice, but surely it's possible to have 2 sessions of paid advice before paying the full whack and proceeding forward?

Thanks

Most solicitors won't do this kind of thing without part payment up front. It cost them a lot of time and money (for court applications, insurance, office costsetc) so if you are expecting someone to start working without payment you might as well wait for help to freeze over. If you are not sure that you want to start proceeding just yet then just say so and ask them to call back in a month.

Thanks again. Really helpful to know this. I wrote to her and she's asked for 500 upfront instead, something to do with an hourly rate. Even though her hourly rate is 175 p hour.
I'm going to pay it because I really do need the legal advice and know where I stand before attempting to negotiate with ex

Thanks

Ok thanks familylaw, I'll do that.
Good of you to give me the other side's perspective.

I've signed the terms of agreement, does that tie me in to proceeding all the way if I give it to her?

Ok brilliant. Thanks for that!