Legal services specialist

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LAKELAND LAW

No - people's legal problems are too varied for me to have a standard price list. But I am always happy to quote a fixed price in advance, for each piece of work I am asked to do, and am always happy to have an initial discussion about a case, without any obligation or cost.

Let's talk! I can usually tell a client fairly quickly whether their problem is one I could help with, and an initial discussion is always free of charge and without obligation. After that, if a client wants to use my services I will ALWAYS email a Client Care Letter setting out the basis on which I work, what we have agreed I will do, and what we have agreed the client will pay.

I read Law at Oxford (Keble College) and graduated in *information hidden*but I didn't immediately go into legal practice. For 25 years I worked in business - eventually running an SME with about 30 staff and a multi-million pound turnover. I left that in 2004 and after some time off, went back to school and qualified as a barrister, commencing practice in 2008.

I felt it was still too early to retire, so I set up Lakeland Law as my part time legal practice, working for myself, from home. Dealing directly with my clients, and working rom home, I can decide which and how many cases I take on - which leaves time for walking the dogs and looking after the garden!

I have worked for all manner of clients - private criminal law matters; investors setting up a new business; a British company with contractual issues with a U.S. supplier; home owners with a boundary dispute; relatives with a dispute over their will. There are some things I don't do: conveyancing; family, children and divorce law; complicated personal injury matters. And if a matter is outside my area of expertise I will ALWAYS tell you that, and err on the side of caution in taking that view.

I created a structure that enabled investors to take a stake in a local business and have security for their money, without taking control of the business from its long-time operator. It created an opportunity for the investors and saved a much loved local enterprise.

Be careful - if you're hiring a lawyer, do check on the web site of the Solicitors' Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board, that the person you are thinking of hiring is actually a qualified Solicitor or Barrister. Sadly, there are now many unqualified people who will take your money and give you poor advice!

IS IT REALLY WORTH IT? - legal costs can very easily get out of hand and it is all too easy to spend more on arguing about a matter through lawyers, than the dispute is really worth. Set a limit on what you are prepared to spend, before you talk to anyone.