Check they are regulated
Solicitors in England and Wales are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You can check a solicitor or firm on the register at sra.org.uk. Many firms show an SRA digital badge on their website, which links to their details.
Other legal professionals
Not everyone who gives legal help is a solicitor. Licensed conveyancers are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, and chartered legal executives by CILEx Regulation. Will writing is not a regulated activity, so a will writer may not be regulated or insured in the same way. Ask who regulates them.
Compare prices
Firms regulated by the SRA must publish prices and service information on their websites for some common services. These include residential conveyancing, uncontested probate, motoring offences, some employment tribunal claims, debt recovery, immigration (not asylum) and business licensing applications. Use this to compare firms, and ask what is not included.
The client care letter
At the start, you should get a client care letter or terms of business. It should explain who will do the work, who supervises them, how you will be charged, an estimate of costs, and how to complain. Ask to be told if costs are likely to go over the estimate.
Help with costs
Legal aid can help with the costs of some cases, depending on the type of problem and your finances. Check whether you may qualify on gov.uk. Some firms offer a free first meeting or fixed fees for some work.
Complaints
Complain to the firm first. If you are not happy with its final response, or it has not resolved your complaint within eight weeks, you can go to the Legal Ombudsman. The SRA deals with concerns about a solicitor's conduct, such as dishonesty.