| There are many different types of solicitors | | | | WILLS AND PROBATE |
| operating in the legal world. Here is a short | | | | Wills and probate is the legal term used for |
| synopsis of the roles of 10 areas of solicitor | | | | anything involving wills. A lawyer can be consulted |
| practise. | | | | when writing a will to make sure things are legally |
| FAMILY / DIVORCE | | | | in place so it will be honoured when the person in |
| It is always a good idea to use a divorce solicitor | | | | question dies. Once the person has died a solicitor |
| when going through a divorce, to make sure you | | | | will be used to make sure the will is executed as |
| get what you deserve. If you ex spouse has a | | | | the deceased wished. Friends or family of the |
| solicitor and you don't, you may have a significant | | | | deceased will used a lawyer if they would like to |
| disadvantage. This is still the case if you will not be | | | | contest the will. |
| going to court and are trying to come to an | | | | PROPERTY |
| agreement with your former partner. Your | | | | Property, or conveyancing solicitors, are required |
| solicitor will advice you of your rights and double | | | | when someone is wishing to purchase a home or |
| check everything. | | | | other property. They are necessary to deal with |
| A Divorce Lawyer is almost essential if you will be | | | | any legal issues involved. Their roles include taking |
| going to court; whether it comes to splitting | | | | care of stamp duty, looking into land registry |
| property, finances or anything else. When it | | | | issues and reviewing contracts. If a mortgage is |
| comes to children a solicitors could help you get | | | | being taken out by their client they liaise with the |
| custody or sufficient visiting rights. They may also | | | | lender to make sure everything is in order. Fees |
| help if you should be receiving child maintenance | | | | are usually dependant on the price of the |
| from the other parent. | | | | property being purchased, and are normally in the |
| COMMERCIAL | | | | region of half a per cent of the properties value. |
| Commercial, or corporate lawyers, work within | | | | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY |
| the business sphere. They deal with a whole host | | | | Intellectual property refers not to property as in a |
| of areas that a business may be involved in. This | | | | building, but property as a result of creation. This |
| could be a dispute between two businesses or a | | | | will include trademarks and copyright. Anything |
| business and another organisation or individual. Any | | | | that is created by someone will come under this. |
| legal documentation, including contracts, will be | | | | If something you have created has been |
| dealt with. | | | | unlawfully used or copied by somebody else then |
| EMPLOYMENT | | | | you might consult an intellectual property lawyer. |
| Employment could also come under a commercial | | | | TAX |
| lawyer, or it could be dealt with a specialist. This | | | | There are lawyers who specialise in tax disputes. |
| area of law often refers to disputes between an | | | | If someone either believes they are paying too |
| employer and employee. If someone doesn't | | | | much tax or has been accused of avoiding tax, a |
| believe they are being given their employee rights | | | | solicitor can help. Like in criminal law, the state |
| or are being treated unfairly they may seek an | | | | may also use a lawyer, if they believe someone |
| employment solicitor's advice. This may include a | | | | has been withholding tax. |
| claim of unfair dismissal. | | | | INJURY |
| A business may also use an employment solicitor | | | | If you have an accident and believe you deserve |
| when sorting out compensation packages when | | | | compensation then an injury solicitor can help. First |
| someone is being made redundant, and to make | | | | of all you will be able to seek advice as to |
| sure everything is being dealt with in the right | | | | whether your case is worth pursuing. If you |
| way if they are terminating an employee's | | | | accident is due to negligence of another party you |
| contract. | | | | solicitor will help you receive the necessary |
| CRIMINAL | | | | compensation. Such examples could be if you |
| Criminal Solicitors are used by those accused of | | | | have had a slip or fall, an accident in a dangerous |
| committing a crime. If contesting the accusation a | | | | area that had not been clearly marked, or an |
| lawyer will gather evidence to try to prove the | | | | accident in a public building where health and |
| innocence of their client. Lawyers are important in | | | | safety rules have been broken. |
| giving the accused a fair trial, and making sure | | | | IMMIGRATION |
| someone is not wrongly convicted. Those who | | | | Immigration solicitors are used in the case of |
| admit guilt may still want legal assistance; to try | | | | somebody trying to move into the country from |
| to get the best, or least worst, possible | | | | overseas. They can help with any legal issues and |
| punishment. | | | | paperwork. This could include those seeking |
| The state will also use a criminal solicitor in the | | | | asylum, applications to become a citizen, and |
| case of a court case. Their lawyers' job is to | | | | sorting out work permits. |
| prove that the defendant is guilty. | | | | |