How do you find a family solicitor?

[expatkat]

Is that what it's called here: family solicitor? The kind that deals with divorces and whatnot? Someone suggested I look in the Yellow Pages, but I always manage to pick the ONE dodgy listing. I'm in London, by the way. Apologies if this has come up before, but I couldn't find it in the archives.

Call your local CAB. They have a listing guide of all local solicitors and what they specialize in, and may well be able to recommend one above another.

Thanks, Turquey, but even after 6 years here I'm weak with the lingo. What's CAB?

Sorry - Citizen's advice bureau. There should definitely be a number in your yellow pages. They can even give you a bit of basic legal advice if you're not after anything too tricky, but will certainly give you some solicitors names.

expatkat, hope the divorce lawyer is not for you. If you are seeking advice about a divorce (rather than more straightforward things such as ordinary wills) and are in a higher income bracket, I would advise you to look at the more specialised firms rather than the general cheaper firms. People say a divorce costs as much as a wedding these days, so it is worth getting specialist advice early on if the couple are high earners, and finding a solicitor whom you really trust and like. If you get hold of the Legal 500 directory )or look online) you will see a list of the top firms there by specialities, and you should ask for a fee guideline right at the outset, before choosing a firm. The best option is to ask divorced friends for their personal recommendations - often a way of finding a good cheaper firm that is not in the directories because of its small size.