The contracts toolkit

Using a contract

Ask friends, family and professional colleagues for recommendations.
Whilst a solicitor may not be a specialist in matters that affect artists, you will not always require specialist advice. Ask for a short initial meeting or phone conversation free of charge to explain the problem and find out how the solicitor thinks he or she can help - you should not expect free advice at this meeting.
Before seeing the solicitor assemble any correspondence and notes in date order and leave a copy with the solicitor.
Ask for an overall estimate of fees and an hourly rate.
Make your own financial position clear.
Ask who in the office you will deal with - you may find it is someone straight out of law school as this would be suitable for some cases.
Where specialist advice is needed ask what kind of work the solicitor usually does and the kind of clients they act for.
Do not hesitate to make a decision based on personal impressions. Having a solicitor you like and can work with is important.
Once you have appointed a solicitor discuss the alternative solutions for your problem with him / her - expediency, time and cost can sometimes be more important than principle.
Keep in regular contact with the solicitor to keep up-to-date with progress but do not encourage them to write long letters of advice which cost money - telephone calls or short meetings are better.
Respond promptly to telephone calls, letters and emails and tell your solicitor if you are unclear about advice or your case generally.

Further information on how to seek legal advice is available from:

Directory of solicitors advice agencies and legal information procedures in England and Wales from www.clsdirect.org.uk

Information on court procedures www.solicitors-online.com

Information on Scotland from www.lawscot.org.uk

Go to www.artquest.org.uk/artlaw for an archive of legal articles from Art Monthly