Legal

When you need a solicitor or lawyer, what to ask first and how fees are usually structured.

• Hiring a conveyancing solicitor or real estate lawyer

  When you need a conveyancer, solicitor or real estate attorney to buy or sell a home in the UK, US, Canada or Australia, and how to compare their quotes.

• Getting a will written: solicitor, will writer or DIY

  How to choose between a solicitor, a will writer and a DIY will, what to decide about executors and guardians, and how estate planning works in the US.

• Choosing an immigration lawyer or adviser

  Who is allowed to give immigration advice in the UK, US, Canada and Australia, how to check them, how fees work, and the warning signs of an immigration scam.

• How to choose a lawyer and understand their fees

  How to find a lawyer for an everyday legal problem, check they are licensed, and compare hourly, fixed fee, retainer and no win no fee arrangements.