Can solicitors just drop you ?

Sunnyisland

My cousin was in the process of a proposed purchase of some land (6000,E) He went through a family memeber who is a legal assistant,This land purchase has been going on since last january,Today he received a letter signed by the legal assistant saying without prejudice they would rather not want to act on his behalf and basically could he get another firm, Is this legal and normal and can he demand an explanation of why Thanks.

ResearchWill

Yup they can fire a client, to be honest usually only happens if there is a conflict or if the client is just too much work.

In a litigation matter an application must be made to come off record.

Sunnyisland

Well its definitely not that the person is to much work,We are talking about a acre of land in the west of Ireland,And if there is some sort of conflict would the Solicitor not have to explain what it is ?, To get a letter like that is quite annoying to say the least imo.

ResearchWill

realies wrote: »

Well its definitely not that the person is to much work,We are talking about a acre of land in the west of Ireland,And if there is some sort of conflict would the Solicitor not have to explain what it is ?, To get a letter like that is quite annoying to say the least imo.

It may be a conflict situation in that they have discovered the other party is a past client of the firm.

When I say too much work I mean the client is ringing all the time and just not worth the time.

nuac

"just an acre of land in the West of Ireland" can be mega trouble.

In litigation civil or criminal a solicitor may be directed by the court to continue to represent the client.

In noncontentious work, solicitor free to act or not act as (s)he sees fit

Procrastastudy

Bit confused by this Legal assistant thing. Possibly someone got in over their head?

Sunnyisland

Research Will wrote: »

It may be a conflict situation in that they have discovered the other party is a past client of the firm.

When I say too much work I mean the client is ringing all the time and just not worth the time.

sorry :o



Will the work they have done already be due payment or do they pass that on to the new firm of solicitors ?

Sunnyisland

GCD Law student wrote: »

Bit confused by this Legal assistant thing. Possibly someone got in over their head?

That was my opinion, I thought the letter should have been signed by the solicitor not the legal assistant ?




So much for giving work to SIL office :mad:

Farcear

realies wrote: »

sorry :o



Will the work they have done already be due payment or do they pass that on to the new firm of solicitors ?

Assuming that a qualified solicitor was involved...

The solicitor is entitled to be paid for work done.


Given that the client was the purchaser, i.e. already had the money, it would not be unreasonable for the former solicitor to request payment before even handing owner the file to the new solicitor.

Delancey

realies wrote: »

We are talking about a acre of land in the west of Ireland

Clearly you haven't seen ' The Field '

Sunnyisland

Delancey wrote: »

Clearly you haven't seen ' The Field '

Tis my land i tell ya