Free Initial Assessment

What is a free initial assessment / consultation?

We offer a free initial telephone consultation to all callers.

Phoning a Solicitor may be a new experience. You will want to convey the main points of your enquiry and decide whether we’re right for you (and vice versa) without ‘the meter running’ from the moment you pick up the phone.

The Consultation/Assessment

Via our New Enquiries Team, we normally gather all of the information we need in 10-15 minutes, often less. Where possible we will also give an indication of costs or confirm where fixed fees/costs are available. For more complex matters calls may take a bit longer, but we can always arrange a follow-up call to suit.

When you (and we) decide to go ahead, we may (depending on your enquiry) arrange a further brief call with a lawyer: this is a 10-15 minute call to confirm all of the essential facts, let you know your options and give a further indication of costs.

If you feel you need more time during this phone call (or are seeking specific legal opinion), we would generally require payment on account and it will be made clear that this is the case.

For private client enquiries (advice for individuals) we do not offer free initial meetings; neither do we pass enquiries directly to a lawyer – your first port of call is always the New Enquiries Team. (For more complex matters, we accept that on occasion people may want a face to face meeting: in limited circumstances, we will agree to a brief 15-minute meeting, after which you will be given the option to continue on a chargeable basis.)

Generally, we do not provide free face-to-face consultations. Neither can we provide free legal advice.

It is important to understand that we do not give legal advice during these early stages. We will advise you on whether we feel you have a case worth pursuing; we can advise you on likely cost etc but we are unable to give legal advice until you formally retain our services and become a client.

AI-Generated Information Disclaimer

Any legal information or outputs obtained from artificial intelligence tools (including, without limitation, large language models such as “ChatGPT”) are provided for general information only. Such outputs may be inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or presented in a manner that overstates their reliability. They do not constitute legal advice, should not be relied upon as such, and are not a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer who has considered your specific circumstances. If you choose to run your situation or enquiry through these artificial intelligence tools we reserve the right not to engage with you about them, not to respond to their ‘points’ or ‘advice’, and will not be bound to or by them. We do not therefore recognise their output as ‘advice’, nor as your instructions.

Our lawyers will independently assess, verify, conclude and advise on all legal issues. In carrying out our professional work, we will discount AI-generated material and will base our advice solely on our own analysis, applicable law and authoritative sources. If you choose to consult AI tools, you do so at your own risk, and you should not take or refrain from taking any action on the basis of AI-generated content without seeking appropriate legal advice from us.