So you’ve finally found the lawyer you want to work with. Having settled on a fee and discussing the details, you tell the lawyer you would like to instruct him or her.
Their response:
‘Can you just send me a copy of your passport and a utility bill. Then I can get started on your work.’
Maybe it’s not the response you were expecting and at first, it might even seem a little suspicious. Someone you may only have spoken to once or twice over the phone asking for a utility bill, a copy of your ID? Why do they need that - don’t they trust you? It turns out this is completely normal, and here’s why.
In the UK, solicitors are highly regulated. This means a number of things which ultimately benefit you, the client. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) holds them to a strict code. The code means that they have to verify the identity of each client to comply with anti-terror, anti-money-laundering rules and to make sure there’s no conflict of interest.
To do so, they will normally require a piece of ID and proof of address, so do not think they are asking for this just to be awkward. However it is always best to check the SRA register before sending them your documents, to ensure that they are a regulated solicitor. Although if you hire a lawyer through Lexoo, you won't need to check, because we do that for you! If they aren’t on the register, there are two possibilities. They could be a Lawyer, Legal Advisor or Barrister (in which case check the Bar register here) but not a Solicitor. Read more about this distinction in a previous post of ours here. Alternatively they really could be a scammer, so thank goodness you checked the SRA register. Phew.
The other reason they may ask to verify your companies name and your details is to make sure that they aren’t acting on behalf of the other party, if there are multiple parties involved.
Once you’ve jumped through those hoops, you should expect to sign a Client Engagement Letter, which outlines the terms on which the advice is to be given. When this has been signed, they’ll be ready to get started on your work.
So in summary, it is perfectly normal for a solicitor to ask for your documents, just make sure that they’re regulated, it could save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
If you’re looking for an SRA regulated solicitor to help your business, we’d love to help at Lexoo.