Finding a new Lawyer

[Jass T]

I have recently been badly let down by a lawyer, who was preparing a new lease for new tenants in a commercial property i own.
I have been using the firm for 30+years. The lawyer I had retired 4 years ago. The new lawyer handled a couple of cases, which went smoothly. But this last case really has tested my patience.
I asked a couple of friends in business about their lawyers. They don't seem suitable for me.
So apart from referrals, how do I go about finding suitable new lawyers. Anybody have any advice. Mostly be handling property purchases,sales, leases etc.

 

[KAC]

I think you are based in Scotland where the legislation may differ. Maybe @Scalloway can make some suggestions?

 

[Mr D]

Is it just for handling leases or are there other requirements you are looking for in lawyers?

 

[LanceUk]

If you have use the firm for 30 years, it may be worth chatting to the managing partners and let them know what is goingon (unless of course, the new lawyer is a managing partner). Unless you are small fry in their firm, they will probably want to keep a long standing client.

Failing that, lawyers are like any other profession and usually have strong connections in the industry. If you can contact the retired lawyer and ask their recommendations, that may be a good starting point..

 

[Scalloway]

I think you are based in Scotland where the legislation may differ. Maybe @Scalloway can make some suggestions?

Thanks for the mention. When I dealt with property management in my full time job we used Brodies, which is one of the biggest firms in Scotland. I had to set up a lease for a charity a couple of years ago and we used a local solicitor, who has now amalagamted his practice with Anderson Strathearn. I'm not able to comment on them but their connact details are here.

https://andersonstrathern.co.uk/contact-us/

 

[John Hemming]

The difficulty is that there can be a really wide range of competence of solicitors in a particular firm. We had a really good solicitor locally recently who was really good at conveyancing, but she has now moved first so I am in the process of following her to instruct her at the new firm.

You probably need localish recommendations. It does help at times to have someone close by.

 

[Jass T]

Is it just for handling leases or are there other requirements you are looking for in lawyers?

Leases & purchases, sales of commercial and domestic property, mostly.
Personal stuff like will etc.

 

[Jass T]

If you have use the firm for 30 years, it may be worth chatting to the managing partners and let them know what is goingon (unless of course, the new lawyer is a managing partner). Unless you are small fry in their firm, they will probably want to keep a long standing client.

Failing that, lawyers are like any other profession and usually have strong connections in the industry. If you can contact the retired lawyer and ask their recommendations, that may be a good starting point..

He is a managing partner unfortunately. I actually bumped into the retired lawyer while out on a walk. He told me he had heard other similar stories from old clients. He advised me to find another lawyer.
I should have asked him to recommend me one, I will contact him see if he has any recommendations.

 

[Jass T]

Found a website reviewsolicitors.co.uk. seems quite good.

 

[claire_b]

I have Harper James on retainer. A completely different world in terms of fees, responsiveness and general give-a-monkeys. Recommended.