Legal guides: United Kingdom

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.

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. 7 min read 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. 5 min read 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. 7 min read 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. 6 min read 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. 5 min read 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. 8 min read 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. 7 min read 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. 8 min read 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. 7 min read 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. 8 min read 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. 7 min read 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. 6 min read 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. 6 min read 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. 6 min read