A study based on interviews with 40 recent purchasers of legal services found that consumers feel �let down� when they find there are �hidden charges� for work, such as additional searches.
The interviews showed that consumers had only a limited knowledge of the legal market, and word of mouth was a key factor in finding a solicitor. Shopping around and comparing prices was �very rare�. Consumers felt that if a firm had �solicitor� in its name, this indicated a reliable provider.
The consumers questioned said it should be �as standard� for a solicitor to offer clear, easy to understand charges. They said they valued a solicitor who remembers their name.
Paul Halstead, our Managing Partner noted the results of the research and commented: " Smith Sutcliffe follow the recommendations of both the Law Society and The Solicitors Regulation Authority with regard to charging for our work. We will always give clients a written and clear indication of the likely cost of their work and on long running matters will update this every six months as a minimum. Sometimes issues arise which were not forseen when the job started but we will always advise our client about this, and advise on the likely additional cost "
The Smith Sutcliffe Team pride themselves on having a strong relationship with our clients - some of our staff will have been in contact with the same clients for over 30 years.
