A free assessment. No obligation. No pressure.
We’re prepared to invest our time in understanding your problem before asking you to invest your money in us.
Why do we do it?
Most people are understandably reluctant to instruct someone to deal with a legal problem before they know whether that person understands their circumstances, has the necessary experience and is likely to be able to help.
We believe there’s a better way.
Every enquiry starts with a free assessment. We discuss what has happened, read the important documents and give you a considered view of the problem and the options.
For a less intricate matter, we aim to provide a detailed and comprehensive assessment of the problem presented. For a more intricate matter, it will usually be a careful initial examination of the principal issues apparent from the information and papers available.
Even where the initial examination is limited, we aim to make it useful: identifying the important points, explaining the uncertainties and showing what further analysis may be needed.
The depth of the assessment depends on the complexity of the matter and the material available. We may provide our view in writing where appropriate. If more extensive paid work would assist, we explain the proposed work and agree the fee in writing before it begins. There is no obligation to instruct us further.
This may involve a substantial amount of work. The time we spend is discretionary: we’re prepared, at our discretion, to spend up to two hours reviewing and discussing an enquiry without charge, and sometimes longer where we consider it justified. That is not a guarantee of two hours on every enquiry, and it is not an exhaustive investigation.
We don’t insist on an appointment for every initial conversation. If we’re available when you telephone, we’ll speak to you there and then. If we’re not available, we’ll arrange to respond.
There’s no obligation to instruct us
You are welcome to take our assessment away, consider it, obtain a second opinion, or discuss it with a solicitor or barrister. We don’t charge you for doing so.
If it’s the other way round — your matter is already being handled elsewhere and you want an independent view of it — our litigation second opinions service works on the same basis: a free initial review of a case summary and up to 50 pages of key documents, then an extensive written opinion at a price agreed in writing. The 50-page allowance applies to the free initial stage; the papers to be considered for a paid opinion are agreed with you in advance.
Every business has to invest in finding and retaining customers. Rather than spending all of that investment on advertising, we prefer to spend some of it talking to prospective clients and helping them understand their position.
We find that people who have experienced the care and attention we give to their initial enquiry often return to instruct us. That is how we aim to build trust and long-term relationships. Our income comes from the work clients subsequently choose to instruct us to undertake — not from charging people simply to find out whether we can help them.
What the free assessment does and does not include
- —A conversation with an experienced legal expert about your circumstances, and a careful preliminary view of your position.
- —A close reading of the essential documents you send us, within reasonable limits.
- —A written assessment where we consider it appropriate.
- —A clear explanation of what we could do next and what it would cost, if we believe we can help.
Please read this carefully
The free service is an initial assessment. It is not an unlimited commitment to undertake a matter without charge. Any written advice is provided when appropriate and at Talk Legal's discretion, and the extent of that reading and the time spent on it is discretionary.
Because the assessment and preliminary advice are given free, our liability in respect of that advice is capped at £100. The caps for paid work are set out in our disclaimer.
The initial assessment does not mean that Talk Legal has agreed to conduct proceedings or take responsibility for court or Tribunal deadlines. No client is obliged to purchase further services.
Urgent deadlines remain the prospective client's responsibility unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing. Free assessment does not extend to providing advice in areas in which Talk Legal is not legally authorised to practise.
Receiving a free assessment does not by itself make Talk Legal responsible for your matter, and it does not create a retainer. Responsibility begins only when we accept a defined instruction in writing after our conflict and identity checks.
How to make the most of it
- —Tell us what has happened in your own words, in a few short paragraphs.
- —Send the documents that define the matter: the contract, the letters, the claim or the lease.
- —State clearly whether money is owed, what you want to achieve, and any date by which something must be done.
- —Tell us about anything already agreed, paid or promised — it usually matters.
- —Do not send a large unsorted archive. Copies, not originals.
If you are unsure which of our services applies, say so. Working out the right route is part of what we do.
Talk to us first
There’s no charge for the assessment, and no obligation to instruct us. If you have a deadline approaching, tell us the exact date when you get in touch.
Or email us at win@talklegal.net