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Lucy from Stop it Now!

Member since
September 2018

496 posts

Posted Fri March 3, 2023 4:26pmReport post

Dear Forum Users,

We have recently noticed some of you may have expressed some frustration with the support received from solicitors. We understand how challenging and difficult it can be to find legal representation that aligns with you and your loved ones needs. At Stop It Now! we want to make sure that we offer you some support and guidance to help you through this difficult time.

The legal representation that your loved ones receive can have a significant impact on your experience with the criminal justice system. All solicitors are required to adhere to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Code of Conduct. This is a set of rules designed to make sure solicitors treat you fairly and professionally. Whilst this is something that solicitors are required to adhere to, we understand that there are occasions where individuals do not receive the support they are entitled to.

While we are unable to recommend specific solicitors or agencies, we most often recommend taking a look at the Law Society website. Here you can find information about solicitors who have experience and specialise in cases involving sexual offences.

If you believe that you or your loved ones are not being treated fairly or are being discriminated against, you can visit the Legal Ombudsman website which details how to submit a formal complaint and receive support. We have included a link to this below.

https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/information-centre/consumer-resources/complaining-to-a-service-provider/

For more guidance you can also visit the Solicitors Regulation Authority website regarding reporting an individual solicitor or firm.

https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/information-centre/consumer-resources/complaining-to-a-service-provider/

We would like to remind you that you can also call the Stop It Now! helpline. Whilst we are not specialists in providing legal advice, we can offer more holistic support to individuals navigating the criminal justice system.

We hope this helps.

Forum Team.

edel2020

Member since
March 2022

375 posts

Posted Mon March 6, 2023 11:53amReport post

I would just like to point out that the Law society only tells you which solicitors deal with certain areas, but not which ones are specialists in those areas.

Since most solicitors are 'generalists' which means they deal with lots of different areas of law, you will find that almost all of them say they can deal with sex crimes. There is no way of sorting the good ones, with successful track records, from the ones with only limited experience.