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Cheap 'Quickie' Divorce Websites |
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Solicitor Managed Divorce Services
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Professional Qualifications
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You are placing a good deal of trust in the person who manages your divorce and you want to make sure that they have the right level of qualifications.
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No mandatory qualifications.
You don't need to have any qualifications at all to set up as a divorce expert or a divorce 'case manager'.
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Fully Qualified.
To qualify as a solicitor you have to:
- obtain a law degree
(or a degree plus a law conversion course)
- complete a Legal Practice Course
- complete a two year training contract
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Professional experience |
Your divorce may be delayed or rejected by the court if mistakes are made in the application, so it is important that the person managing your divorce is legally qualified.
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Less experience.
Online services generally use lower paid Legal Executives and you have no way of checking how experienced they are.
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Experienced in family law.
To qualify for 'Family Law accreditation' solicitors have to demonstrate that they have at least 350 hours current experience and knowledge of family law.
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Regulation and Standards
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The Solicitors Regulation Authority protects consumers by setting standards of professional conduct, handling complaints and providing compensation if a solicitor acts dishonestly.
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Not regulated
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Family solicitors are regulated by the SRA.
Solicitors must comply with a code of conduct, they must act with integrity and in the interests of their clients, and they must remain independent and offer a good standard of service.
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Legal Advice |
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Access to legal advice during divorce is important to avoid mistakes that could have serious long term financial consequences.
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Not included.
Case managers from unregulated divorce websites are not qualified to offer legal advice. In fact they are not allowed to offer legal advice.
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Included.
Family solicitor's are qualifed and are able to offer legal advice. |
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Professional Indemnity Insurance |
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Professional indemnity insurance provides cover to ensure that a provider of legal services can afford any claims of negligence that might be brought against it.
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Not covered.
Most online divorce companies do not carry this insurance as it is expensive.
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Covered.
By choosing a solicitor to manage your divorce you are getting this important insurance cover included.
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Complaint Handling
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What happens when something goes wrong with your divorce or consent order? For example: if your divorce petition is not drafted properly and is rejected by the court, who can you complain to?
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Not covered.
Unfortunately, if the company that you use to manage your divorce is not a regulated law firm then you cannot complain to the legal ombudsman.
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Covered.
If you have a complaint about a solicitor, the legal ombudsman offers a free, impartial service to resolve that complaint.
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- Why use a solicitor? 
