Legal guides
Plain-English explanations of finding and paying for a lawyer, and of common legal problems in the United States, the UK and Europe. Our guides are general information, not legal advice.
Finding a lawyer
Finding a lawyer
How to find a good lawyer near you
A practical, country-neutral guide to finding, checking and choosing a local lawyer, and what to ask before you hire one.
Finding a lawyer
Finding a lawyer in Europe: a guide for expats and international clients
How legal professions work across Europe, how to find an English-speaking lawyer, the role of notaries, and help with cross-border legal aid.
United States
US · Finding a lawyer
Hiring a lawyer in the US: questions to ask before you sign
What to ask at the first consultation, how engagement letters and retainers work, and red flags to watch for when hiring a US attorney.
US · Finding a lawyer
How to check if a lawyer is licensed in the US
How to look up an attorney with the state bar, read their license status and discipline history, and protect yourself from scams.
US · Costs
Contingency fees explained: how "no win, no fee" lawyers get paid
What a contingency fee is, typical percentages, how case costs are handled, and the questions to ask before you sign.
US · Costs
How much does a lawyer cost? Hourly rates, flat fees and retainers
The main ways US lawyers charge, what drives the price, and practical ways to keep legal costs down.
US · Personal injury
What to do after a car accident: a step-by-step checklist
What to do at the scene, in the following days, and when to speak to a personal injury lawyer after a car accident in the US.
US · Criminal & DUI
Arrested for DUI? What happens next
The DUI process from arrest to court, the separate license suspension, possible penalties and how a DUI lawyer can help.
US · Debt & bankruptcy
Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 bankruptcy: which is right for you?
How the two main consumer bankruptcy options differ, who qualifies, what happens to your home and car, and how a bankruptcy lawyer helps.
United Kingdom
UK · Choosing a solicitor
How to choose a solicitor: a step-by-step guide
How to find a specialist, check they are regulated, compare costs and ask the right questions before you instruct a firm.
UK · Choosing a solicitor
How to check a solicitor is genuine and regulated
How to use the SRA register, spot clone-firm scams and protect your money before you pay a solicitor.
UK · Choosing a solicitor
Solicitor fees explained: fixed fees, hourly rates and no win, no fee
How solicitors charge, what affects the price, what disbursements are, and how to keep costs under control.
UK · Choosing a solicitor
Legal aid explained: who qualifies and what it covers
Which types of case legal aid covers, how the means and merits tests work, and how to find a legal aid solicitor.
UK · Choosing a solicitor
How to complain about a solicitor
How to complain to the firm, when to go to the Legal Ombudsman, the time limits, and when to report a solicitor to the SRA.
UK · Family
How divorce works in England and Wales
The no-fault divorce process step by step, how long it takes, and why you need to sort out your finances separately.
UK · Family
Child arrangements after separation: a guide for parents
How parents can agree where children live and spend time, how mediation works, and what the court considers if you can't agree.
UK · Property
The conveyancing process explained: buying and selling a home
Each stage of buying or selling a home in England and Wales, from offer to completion, and what your conveyancer does.
UK · Wills & probate
Making a will: what you need to know
Why you need a will, how to make it legally valid, what happens if you die without one, and when to update it.
UK · Wills & probate
Probate explained: what to do when someone dies
What probate is, when you need it, the steps an executor takes, inheritance tax basics and when to get help from a solicitor.
UK · Employment
Employment tribunal claims: a guide for employees
Common types of claim, Acas early conciliation, strict time limits, settlement agreements and when to get legal help.
UK · Immigration
Getting immigration advice: how to choose a regulated adviser
Who is allowed to give immigration advice, how to check an adviser, what to expect and how legal aid works.
UK · Crime
Your rights at the police station
Your right to free legal advice, what happens in custody and in a police interview, and why advice matters even in a voluntary interview.
UK · Personal injury
No win, no fee claims explained
How conditional fee agreements and damages-based agreements work, what success fees are, and how much of your compensation you keep.