How to Find a Good Lawyer in London

The thing about capital cities is that they are often rather large; this can be a great thing when you are a tourist, taking in the sights and sounds of London town, with so many things to do every day, yet when you are trying to find a good lawyer, it can be a bit of a nightmare!

Lawyers flock to London as it really is the place to be if you want to get to the top of any major industry in the UK; this means that there are a plethora of lawyers to choose from, yet the question is, how do we find the right one? Sure, one may offer the best advice, yet charge unreasonable prices, or another may be cheap as chips but not know the first thing about winning a case!

Many of the city's law firms are situated in the heart of the city, with places like Bond street and Goodge street littered with be-suited ladies and gentlemen, trotting off on the daily grind, many of whom lawyers that could help you with your case.

A London lawyer may not be any different to any other lawyer in the UK, with the obvious exception of the fast talking accent and the sky high prices! However, simply because you are in the capital city, does not mean that you have to pay through the nose for legal advice; by searching the market and comparing different lawyer's price ranges, you are sure to find a bargain.

It is here where the secret to finding a good London lawyer lies; research. If you go for the first lawyer that you find, then you are almost certainly not going to get the best bargain, unless you are extremely lucky.

By researching all of the law firms in London, or at least a fair few of them, you will put yourself in a better bargaining position to discuss prices. Internet sites can help you with this, as there are sites available that will allow you to compare and contrast the various attributes of London lawyers, before you settle on your final decision.

When researching London lawyers, try to assess which of them has the most experience in your case; this is essential in helping your confidence in whether you can win your case or not and remember, just because they are working in the capital, does not mean that they need a lot more of your capital to take your case!

Stay in London With Your Mother-in-Law?

So, you should visit your mother-in-law in London but don't really want to stay the night with her? Well, there are plenty of alternative places to stay in London and loads of things to do whilst in the Capital.

Hotels in London are quite well-known for their high costs; however, if you have some foresight and plan ahead, you can stay there without emptying your pockets. Accommodation in London is variable, ranging from luxury, 5-star hotels to snug and comfortable bed & breakfast pubs and guest houses. A great way to save money on accommodation in London without staying with your mother-in-law is to simply choose to go in the off-season time. Accommodation in London is extremely expensive and quite hard to find over the summer. In general, accommodation in London is the most expensive in the UK and Ireland.

It's possible to stay in London on a slim budget. B&Bs are comparatively cheap places where you can stay in London and still be comfortable.

You could even become a member of Hostelling International and get discounts on accommodation, trips, activities and admission to museums and cultural centres. If you get an international youth hostel card, you can stay in London hostels for under $30 a night. You can join through your local Youth Hostel Association.

Your mother-in-law may offer you a meal but if not there are plenty of places to eat, but eating out is generally expensive in London. But it is a place that enjoys diverse restaurants offering cuisines of different kinds and places. In fact, they rival the restaurants of some of the modern and thickly populated American cities like New York and San Francisco.

Some of the finest bars and restaurants in London may be on your mother-in-law's doorstep, along with many attractions like Buckingham Palace and the Royal Academy of Arts.

London has some ambitious Indian restaurants that offer outstanding and original Indian cuisine. Some Indian restaurants even specialise in the cuisines of another country, calling it their own and attracting new admirers to it.

You may prefer French food and whilst there are excellent French restaurants in London they can also be found in Greater London, too. It's true that restaurants in London are famous for variety and you'll find just about every type of food imaginable from all over the world but probably not quite like your mother-in-law will provide! Restaurants in London are certainly not cheap and you may sometimes have to cough up more than you bargained for! Remember that if you stay at a guest house in London, you may be able to arrange an evening meal along with your bed and breakfast.

Some of the places you can visit whilst you are in London include the British Museum, Natural History Museum, the London Eye, Tate Modern, National Gallery, Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Madam Tussauds (now with a new figure of Michael Jackson), the Tower of London and National Maritime Museum. Other places to visit in London include Covent Garden, Harrods in Knightsbridge for some retail therapy, the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, London Zoo, Hampton Court Palace (try the maze) and Kew Gardens. A guest house in London makes a very good base from which to visit all of these interesting places.

Starting Your Legal Career

Whether you are a law student or just interested in working within the legal industry, breaking into the working legal world can be a daunting prospect. The hierarchical nature of the law industry and the hard work involved in becoming a qualified and certified lawyer means that entering the workforce usually means working your way from the bottom up. The experience gained from such entry level work, however, is crucial and a fundamental stepping stone in being a proactive, sharp and perceptive participant in the industry. If you're looking at jumpstarting your law career, then here are a couple of ways to get your foot in the door.

- Internship and clerkship opportunities. Most law firms offer internships - often over the summer or on a longer basis - to law students who are eager to gain experience and put their law degree into practice. As with most businesses, cost cutting can be a priority so these clerkships and internships can be either paid, or unpaid. As a law student, a part time clerkship role can be a great way to earn money while getting hands on experience while you study.

- Paralegal or admin work. If you haven't undertaken any legal studies, there are still a number of job opportunities available in law firms and other legal areas. Paralegal and office admin work are two important areas where those looking to break into the industry should start.

- Extracurricular activities. For those still studying it's easy to add weight and credentials to your CV by participating in extracurricular activities. Whether this means getting involved in mock trial competitions, your university's law society activities or writing for school related journals or newspapers, all of these supplementary activities will give you valuable experience and an impressive CV.

- Volunteer Work. Many non-profits, public interest organisations, legal clinics and legal aid offices are desperate for volunteers and will eagerly take you up on the offer of your time. Although volunteer work is unpaid, their reliance on volunteers means you are likely to be given wider responsibility and get exposure to a wider range of clients, roles and cases.

- Use your personal contacts. As true with any industry or job search, it's important to rely on, and use any personal contacts or relationships that you already have. If you're a law student, for example, maintain good relationships with your professors and lawyers who will often hear of job roles or internships first, and thus be able to pass them on to you. Whether you're working in Sydney or London, legal careers will be easier to come by when you have legal work experience behind you and on your resume. If your ultimate goal is to be a Sydney lawyer, jobs will be easier to come by when you have a work history in the law sector.