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Original poster

Help with solicitor

4 replies

mrspixie1 · 19/07/2025 22:17

I have got some help with a solicitor to deal with an employment case but I am a bit wary of their skills. They don’t seem to be giving me much in terms of solid advice, they keep asking me things like “what do you think about that” or “what do you want to do” to which I respond and they respond by “ok if you are sure” rather than giving me legal advice on what I should do.
they have a reputable standing so I at least thought I would be getting half decent help. I made a decision to move matters forward and they asked me about three times ‘whether I am sure’ to which I replied “you sounds apprehensive can you advise what I should do? They said no no, I am just checking.

anyway they are not giving me much confidence and hope and its rather an important matter.

OP posts:
onmywayinamin · 19/07/2025 22:50

Generally, a solicitor can’t tell you what to do. They can discuss/ advise on the pros and cons of potential options or alternatives and then you have to decide what to do. Different choices can be made by different people. All can be equally valid and ‘good’ choices. If you are unsure, you could ask them to set out any potential alternative course of action that might be feasible and then you would need to weigh it up.

WiggyPig · 19/07/2025 23:16

A solicitor can't tell you what to do. They can only advise you on the law and your options.

Useful phrases for you could include

"What would you advise your best friend if they were in my position?"

"What is the cost / benefit ratio in your view?"

"Where would you estimate the prospects of success in this case" (they can usually only do under 50%, over 50%, over 60% or occasionally over 75% so it will be a very very broad figure but you want to know if you're in the under or over 50% bracket)

"When you ask if I'm sure, that would depend on your assessment of the merits, can we sit down and go back over that before I move forward please?"

Original poster
mrspixie1 · 20/07/2025 12:37

onmywayinamin · 19/07/2025 22:50

Generally, a solicitor can’t tell you what to do. They can discuss/ advise on the pros and cons of potential options or alternatives and then you have to decide what to do. Different choices can be made by different people. All can be equally valid and ‘good’ choices. If you are unsure, you could ask them to set out any potential alternative course of action that might be feasible and then you would need to weigh it up.

Thank you that’s useful knowledge. I have never had to deal with a solicitor before so wasn’t sure what to entirely expect.

OP posts:
Original poster
mrspixie1 · 20/07/2025 12:38

WiggyPig · 19/07/2025 23:16

A solicitor can't tell you what to do. They can only advise you on the law and your options.

Useful phrases for you could include

"What would you advise your best friend if they were in my position?"

"What is the cost / benefit ratio in your view?"

"Where would you estimate the prospects of success in this case" (they can usually only do under 50%, over 50%, over 60% or occasionally over 75% so it will be a very very broad figure but you want to know if you're in the under or over 50% bracket)

"When you ask if I'm sure, that would depend on your assessment of the merits, can we sit down and go back over that before I move forward please?"

Ah thank you! I hadn’t even thought to pose those questions. Think I would get more helpful answers that way.

OP posts:
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