SHL (shit hot lawyer) needed

[whenwilltherebeg0odnews]

In the north east, for divorce.
Can anyone give any recommendations?
Am getting quite desperate.

Thanks beansontoast.

Am bumping again in the hope there are some personal recommendations.

Sent you a PM

How far north east?

the lawyer doesn't necessarily need to be based locally. Is the issue child / custody based, or financial? different recommendations will apply

It's for the financial side. Custody issue now settled. Very very acrimonious. Stbxh has not paid any maintenance for three years; current lawyer seems too busy to be of practical help (eg has said it will be a month before he can respond to my last correspondence to him) and I feel on the edge of a breakdown with the time it has/is taking and unable to fight my corner. Happy to see anyone between Leeds and Newcastle. Need someone I feel is going to be on my side and give actual advice and strategy rather than just paper pushing.

Can you do some of the 'free half hours' and then ask them how much of their case load is 'only finance-based'. The SHL I use (Not NE) specialises in the unique features of my 'case'.

Take with you a brief synopsis of the situation you find yourself in (because unlike most first timers to divorce) you actually understand the quagmire that you're in, and then ask them how they would approach resolving it.

Treat it as a series of interviews and then shortlist the candidates.

• Shortlist any that suggest a time-tabled divorce (with some STBX's it's the only way you're going to get them to face the paperwork)

• don't just write generically about Family Law on their websites. Are they used to dealing with divorces of your kind (it could be you're a big money case, or that you've got a business together, or many assets, or they do International divorces etc - whatever the "unique factor' is in your divorce) and ask them how much of their recent experience is similar in kind to yours.

• what your budget is for resolving this. If you go the timetabled route, and he doesn't co-operate, then you will end up in a Final Hearing (and that costs ££££ if you're going to use a barrister as well). Ask them whether they think they can get you a solution with that budget.

• what your expectation is in settlement. This way they can start by sending an offer, a deadline, a consequence and then an application to the courts.

• whether they are used to going in front of judges at the FDA stages.

Most solicitors expect to negotiate divorces and do anything to keep it away from the courthouse (resolution-supporters). That's why it can be such a long drawn out process. My SHL decided right after getting his first correspondence to timetable our divorce. So you want someone who is decisive about your circumstances, and also with you.

Sorry I can't help with recommendations, but for example, every divorce is unique, but you want someone who is experienced with similar in kind. Best of luck.

Thanks Wellwhoknew, that's really helpful information; especially about the timetabling and treating them as interviews.

I really need a proper Rottweiler to get this settled in any sort of satisfactory way for the children and I.

You could use someone in London or elsewhere and discuss everything over the phone?

Christopher Knox is a barrister so you would need to instruct a solicitor. I'm a criminal barrister and would use him.

Jan Bennett at Askew Bunting in Middlesbrough. Comes highly recommended by a very experienced local barrister friend who specialises in big money divorces. Good luck.

Just sent you a PM with a lawyer. Good luck

Thank you so much for the recommendations - I am going to check them all out.

Thank you so much for the recommendations - I am going to check them all out.

Thank you so much for the recommendations - I am going to check them all out.