I require independent legal advice

[kordanwalker]

Has anyone used an online independent legal advice service recently?

I need some fairly straightforward independent legal advice/document verification for a property-related matter and was surprised how difficult it’s been to find local solicitors willing to do it without becoming a full client for the wider transaction.

A few firms I contacted either weren’t interested in “standalone” advice appointments or quoted what seemed like very high fees for something relatively simple.

I’ve noticed there now seem to be quite a few online/video appointment services offering independent legal advice instead, but I’m a bit cautious about using them and wondered if anyone here has had any experience — good or bad.

Mainly wondering:

whether the online process was accepted without issue,

how thorough the advice actually was,

and whether people found it easier than going to a traditional local solicitor.

Would really appreciate any recommendations or experiences.

Maybe try the Citizens Advice Bureau?

Hi, is this by any chance a directors guarantee for a BTL purchase in Ltd company? If so I can recommend https://www.ila-connect.co.uk/

I used an online service recently for independent legal advice linked to a property transaction and actually found it much easier than trying to arrange appointments locally.

The process was basically:

• upload documents/ID,
• have a video appointment with a solicitor,
• then receive the signed advice certificate afterwards.

The company I used was:
www.independentlegaladvice.law

I was initially a bit sceptical about doing it remotely, but thankfully the lender accepted everything without any issues and it ended up being much quicker (and cheaper) than the local firms I’d contacted first.

the other route for independent legal advice is to take advice from a Barrister - there is direct access now to barristers and they are used to giving advice on matters - a bit of googling may find you a chambers with appropriate skills...

If I had a pound for every time someone said to me ‘it’s really very simple….’ And most of the time it turns out not to be. What they mean is they know the answer they want to hear and if I don’t give them it they’re either going to twist what I tell them to try and make it fit, refuse to understand why is isn’t as simple as they want it to be, or put in an official complaint and waste a lot of people’s time because they don’t want to pay for the answer they didn’t want to hear.

As soon as someone says it's simple... 😏

I mean, immediately, it shows they have zero idea about the regulatory hoops that must first be jumped through before a file can even be opened, let alone a thorough review take place and proper advice prepared.

It also, as you say, is often said on the basis they think they know the outcome, entirely ignoring the fact that an instruction to advise is essentially and ask that they be informed of the merits and pitfalls of their case (many of which they'll be unaware, because they're not lawyers), along with potential next steps, risks and benefits of those, likely costs etc.

If the solicitor is doing their job properly they will, as said above, have to:
open a file
Make various checks on you as a potential client including verifying your identity
tell you about their charges, complaints procedure etc
read into the matter on which you want advice
warn you about potential risks and possible options and confirm all of this in writing

because if things don’t work out as you’re hoping, they run the risk of you blaming them for poor advice. So yes, even what seems like a simple matter to you is still going to require considerable work on their part, for which they need to be paid.

You might think about how an online service can apparently offer this so much more cheaply, and what services you’ll actually be getting.

And don't forget that part of what you're paying for is the advisor having professional indemnity insurance so, should things go South, you can potentially sue your solicitor for negligence...