Solicitors - Costs and Quality

In our experience there are two concerns which are paramount in the minds of most clients when they first consult a solicitor. Firstly they need to be reassured that they will receive legal advice and assistance of high quality. Secondly they need to be reassured that the cost of the firm's service is affordable and represents good value for money.

A good lawyer will usually set his client's mind at rest on the first concern but unfortunately may leave his client with doubt and uncertainty on the second concern.

Because of the above all the lawyers at Coupe Bradbury at the inception of instructions are required to:

	Explain to the client fully and in detail the cost of the service (and how this is made up) and to subsequently confirm this in writing.
	Discuss with the client the firm's billing procedures and the method of calculation of each invoice.
	Enquire of the client as to whether he/she is likely to experience difficulty in financing the service. Where there is a problem of affordability the lawyer will discuss with the client the different methods by which the firm's costs can be funded and budgeted for. We offer a variety of funding solutions and can normally find one which sets most clients' minds at rest. It is our philosophy that it is best to be open and above-board about issues of cost and affordability at the outset. This ensures that the client is freed of financial concern and can concentrate on the matter in hand.
	As the matter progresses the lawyer is required to keep the client fully and frequently informed about any costs which are being incurred (the client can stipulate the frequency of the provision of this information). In particular the lawyer is required to bring the client's attention to any circumstances, unforeseen at the inception of the matter, which are likely to affect the overall cost of the service. If the cost is likely to be more than was originally thought, the authority of the client is sought at that stage to carry on with the matter. If the enhanced cost will present problems of affordability, the lawyer is required once again to discuss this fully with the client and to find acceptable solutions.

Our mission is to provide a quality service which represents good value at a cost our clients can afford. To this end we do not pretend to be the cheapest of law firms, but neither are we the most expensive.

Realistically the cost of advice and service from good law firms like ours will always be higher than certain firms offering 'cut-price' legal work. This is because we will never sacrifice the high standards on which our firm's reputation has been built over the last 30 years. We:

	Offer the services of experienced lawyers, specialist and skilled in the field of work which they undertake. These lawyers all enjoy an excellent reputation.
	Maintain a law library and information retrieval systems second to none.
	Invest in high quality technology and systems enabling us to deliver an efficient service to all our clients.
	Provide our staff with a working environment and conditions which enable them to work efficiently and well.
	Provide our clients with meeting rooms, facilities and services from support staff which places them at ease and enables them to efficiently communicate their requirements and concerns to us.
	Spend quality time with our clients so that they can be completely assured that no important points have been missed or overlooked and that they are receiving a caring and meticulous service.

Finally, in respect of all work which we undertake we offer an initial 'without obligation' meeting. This enables us to discuss the prospective instructions and, having established the requirements, to give a realistic estimate of the cost together with details of how the cost of the firm's services can be reasonably funded. If having been through this exercise the client decides not to retain our services, he/she will be under no obligation to us at all. There will be no charge.

In order to assist our clients we now have the facility to accept payment by way of all major charge and credit cards.