Everyone needs a solicitor at some point of time.
The legal profession has two distinct branches: solicitors and barristers. Simply put, solicitors provide legal advice, find solutions to problems and represent clients in negotiations. They spend a lot of time meeting with clients, researching cases, writing legal documents, liaising with other professionals and representing clients in court.
Commercial clients call in solicitors for advice on matters including litigation, property, tax and finance. Private client work usually involves personal legal matters such as wills, property conveyancing, divorce and custody. Solicitors' firms come in all shapes and sizes so it’s important to do your research first and find out which one would suit you.
Although the need for legal advice may not always be as obvious, at some point each of us will run into situations and problems that involve law. When you do, you must find out what the law is and how it affects you. You may need to know about your rights and responsibilities as a parent, a spouse, an employee, a consumer, a business partner, an accident victim and so on.If you are faced with a simple legal problem, you can seek information or advice from a wide variety of sources, including government agencies, the Gardai and online experts. In many situations, however, you will need to rely on legal experts and solicitors - to advise you.
Solicitors can help with Personal Injury Claims i.e
- Accidents at work
- Road traffic accidents
- Industrial disease
- Trips, slips and falls
In addition, your chosen Personal Injury solicitor may be able to assist with;
- Accident compensation for defective products
- Holiday Compensation
- Criminal injuries compensation
If you have been arrested or accused of a crime, a solicitor can:
- Advise you of your rights
- Arrange legal defence
- Handle prosecution and appeals
- File civil claims for compensation if you are acquitted
Buying a new home is one of the largest financial commitments you will make during your life. legalireland.info have solicitors who specialise in conveyancing.
legalireland.info advise you to seek legal advice before your problems become complicated and expensive! Often a solicitor can help you avoid trouble and costly mistakes.
What is the Difference between a Solicitor and a Barrister?
A barrister (also called "counsel") is a specialist in advocacy who presents a case in court.
- A solicitor is usually the first port of call when an issue arises, and they deal with the day-to-day administration of the case before it comes to the barrister.
- Barristers draft legal opinions. For example, a barrister might give you a legal opinion on whether or not you have a good legal case against someone with whom you have had a dispute.
- The barrister will then write the legal documents (writs or pleadings) which must be filed in the case.
When the case comes to trial, it is the barrister who will represent you in court, speak on your behalf and argue your case before the judge.
Your barrister may also be the person who negotiates a settlement of your case instead of it going to trial.The barrister considers the relevant points of law and researches previous similar cases. He or she then supplies specialist advice and does the advocacy if the case goes to court.
In court the barrister presents the case, cross-examines witnesses and debates the issues.
Private Investigators - What is a Private Investigator / Detective?
Private Investigators/Detectives are hired by individuals or companies to undertake investigations. Private investigators often work for solicitors in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims and Fraud. Others conduct investigations into Marital infidelity and Cheating, and some serve summons,also known as Process Servers. Private Investigators and Detectives will soon have to register with the PSA (Private Security Authority) and obtain a licence to undertake investigations, The PSA is the Authority who regulate all Security services in Ireland.
The Authority was established by the Private Security Services Act 2004.
The Private Security Services Act 2004 defines a private investigator as :
“private investigator" means a person who for remuneration conducts investigations into matters on behalf of a client and includes a person who—
(a) obtains or furnishes information in relation to the personal character, actions or occupation of a person or to the character or kind of business in which a person is engaged, or
(b) searches for missing persons;