Family First Solicitors Ltd

This Practice Note considers the business case for offering advocacy services, the charges for doing so, and the development of advocacy skills. It also considers combining advocacy with unbundled or pay as you go services and how to charge for advocacy services.

This Practice Note considers the charging and funding of family law services, including contractual terms, regulatory requirements including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regulatory regime and other guidance from the Law Society and the Legal Ombudsman, as well as methods of charging, such as fixed fees, hourly rates, blended rates and ‘unbundling’.

This Practice Note highlights issues that may arise with difficult clients in family law cases and the techniques that may be adopted to manage such clients together with related professional rules and potential capacity issues. It also considers the court’s approach to pseudo-legal arguments and misconceived legal submissions, which may originate with either a client or another party.

This Practice Note sets out the objective of networking, different types of networking, measuring results and how to ensure your networking is effective. It also considers follow up steps to be taken after an event and how to use social media, such as LinkedIn, effectively.

This Practice Note suggests ways in which the profitability of a family law practice can be improved by considering charging rates, outgoings, cash flow, sales and leads, technology and outsourcing.

This Practice Note sets out some key aspects to successfully understand personal productivity as well as some tried and tested time management techniques that can be used by family lawyers.

This Practice Note sets out some of the advantages and disadvantages of offering unbundled, or Pay As You Go, services. It includes details of Law Society guidance and template letters and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations which include the SRA Accounts Rules. It also details services that may be appropriate for unbundled services, and those that may not, and considers issues of risk management, advocacy and the Bar direct access scheme.

This Practice Note sets out best practice and guidance when instructing counsel in family proceedings, including regulatory provisions, contractual terms, professional standards, fees and preparing the brief or instructions to counsel.