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 Frequently AskedQuestions |
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Girlings and you cannot find the answer here, please contact us. Why should I choose Girlings as my solicitors? We have been established in East Kent for 150 years and have a broad-based practice, which includes both services for business and services for individuals. As a sizeable regional firm, we attract capable and competent lawyers who can handle the full range of legal problems at a fair price. How many offices does Girlings have? Girlings has six offices: two in Ashford, one in Canterbury, one in Margate, one in Herne Bay and one in Folkestone. We currently have 26 partners and over 120 members of staff based at these locations:
Given the complexity of the law nowadays, you usually need to consult a specialist. In order to offer you the best possible service, we are putting together specialist teams, which will be based at particular offices. This may mean that not every type of work is done at every office. However, if visiting us is difficult for you, we can meet you at another one of our offices, or at home or your place of work. How does Girlings' fee structure operate? Most fees are calculated by referring to the actual time spent on the matter and charging this at hourly rates, which are fixed by the courts. In some cases, we charge a fixed, transaction-based fee. For some work, a conditional fee arrangement ('No win, No Fee') is appropriate. We keep you informed about your responsibility for costs throughout the progress of your matter and we are always available to discuss financial issues with you if you have a query or concern. How do I pay for any legal costs I incur? Does Girlings accept credit cards, cheques or direct debit? We will send you a bill either at pre-arranged points during the conduct of your matter or at the end, if it is a transaction-based instruction. We expect bills to be paid within 28 days of the invoice being sent to you. We accept cheques and some credit cards. In some ongoing matters, where we can forecast accurately what costs will be, we do accept payment by standing order. We expect disbursements, which are the various costs of other professionals' fees, and registration and search fees, to be paid by you in advance, and we will let you know how much these expenses will be. Is Legal Aid available? In some cases, if your income is below the minimum threshold and the matter is restricted to a limited area of work, we can offer Legal Aid - but please ask us to check if this is available at the beginning of your matter. It's difficult for me to leave the office. Can Girlings arrange a meeting at my office or at my home, rather than at their offices? No problem. We are happy to organise meetings when and where it suits you - to fit in with your schedule and your location. And, of course, all members of our staff have external e-mail and can be contacted directly. Will the same lawyer deal with my case throughout? We always try to deliver the most cost effective solution, so the lawyer working on any particular matter will be the person most appropriate to the level and complexity of the work involved, which may save you money. However, even if work is undertaken by a comparatively junior member of our staff, it is always supervised by the relevant partner or solicitor. What happens if the lawyer I deal with is unavailable? One of the advantages in dealing with a firm of our size is that we have a wealth of experience and resources. So if the person looking after your matter is away from the office for any reason, we are able to pass the file to another member of staff who can progress it in the meantime. Can I be assured of confidentiality? Yes, absolutely. Professional standards require us to ensure that your affairs remain confidential and, indeed, that they are not disclosed to other members of our staff, other parties with whom we are dealing on your behalf or their legal advisors. What happens if I am not satisfied with the work that you do for me? In the first instance, you should discuss the situation with the fee earner concerned and make clear as soon as possible the nature of your concern. If you are unable to resolve the problem, then we have an established complaints procedure. The legal profession also has an independent complaints service, to which you can refer any unresolved difficulty. |
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