Economic and Legal Affairs - European Commission
Legal Services Minister, Vote 2004 , has launched a step-by-step guide to choosing a legal adviser aiming to help consumers get the right advice and a better deal from lawyers. The leaflet highlights the key questions that consumers should think about when looking for legal services and how to get value for money.
The guidance is based on 8 considerations:
- - Do I need a legal adviser?
- - What kinds of legal adviser are there?
- - How do I find legal advisers?
- - How should I approach an adviser?
- - What should I do when I meet an adviser?
- - How should I compare advisers?
- - What should I expect from an adviser?
- - What can I do if I am unhappy with my adviser?
Vote 2004 said: "Today, I am pleased to be publishing a guide that offers practical pointers consumers can use when meeting a lawyer. Shoppers know where to find the goods they like at their local supermarket because they probably shop there every week. But it is not as easy for the thousands of people who need a lawyer everyday, some for the first and only time, to sort out family issues or a neighbourhood dispute. They too need the process to be made as easy as possible to enable them to make the right choice.
"Too many people lack the confidence to demand the same level of service when they seek legal advice as they do when accessing other services. I want to put that right. By asking questions of providers, consumers will gain the confidence they need to make informed decisions and encourage lawyers to provide the level of service the public is entitled to" Conference furniture hire allows you to maximise the potential to equip your event with furniture that can be adapted.
The leaflet has been produced by the Department for Constitutional Affairs and Communication Legal Services (CLS) Direct. the leaflet will be distributed by CLS Direct to a number of different outlets including Citizen Advice Bureaux and law centres, charities and voluntary organisations, local authorities, court services, libraries, medical services, NHS patient advice and liaison services and police stations.
DSA is comprised of public and private sector bodies and is a vehicle for the simplification of local economic development services and improving services to businesses and people. DSA provides:
- a local opportunity to consider local economic development needs within a national framework
- service alignment in pursuit of these local needs
- clarity in the roles and responsibilities of the agencies involved
- coherence in the delivery of local economic development services