Before engaging a lawyer, prepare questions about their practising status, the scope of work, costs and communication.
Check the practising certificate
The Law Society of New South Wales publishes a register of solicitors. Read the register guidance and contact the Society if you cannot find a person: some details are not published. Confirm the current role and availability directly with the practice.
Ask for costs in writing
Ask what the work will cost, what the estimate includes and what it does not, and ask for it in writing before the work starts. If an estimate changes as the matter develops, ask for the revised figure in writing too.
Ask who will do the work
The person you meet is not always the person who runs the file. Ask who will do the work, who you contact between appointments, and how long a reply usually takes.
Be ready to be told the scope
A retainer is the agreement about what the lawyer is doing for you. Read what it covers and, just as importantly, what it excludes.
Know where a complaint goes
The Office of the NSW Legal Services Commissioner publishes information about complaints concerning lawyers in NSW, including conduct and costs. Consult its guidance about the process and matters it can consider.
If you are still deciding who to approach, the directory lists practitioners by practice area, and the guides explain how the directory is put together. If cost is the obstacle, the NSW courts publish a page on where to get legal help and support.
General information, not legal advice. It does not take your circumstances into account and does not create a lawyer and client relationship. Lawyers of Sydney is operated by Jameson Law; listings describe individual practitioners and firms, and a listing is not a recommendation.