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Burgess Mee Family Law
Tier 1Burgess Mee is an award-winning boutique family law firm with offices in Clapham and Liverpool …
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How to find the right solicitor
What Legal 500 rankings actually mean
Legal 500 is an independent directory that surveys clients and peers every year. Tier 1 is the highest ranking in a given region and practice area — it means other clients and solicitors consistently identify that firm as a market leader. Tier 2 and Tier 3 firms are also well-regarded specialists; the tier reflects relative position, not a pass/fail.
Individual solicitors can be ranked as Leading Individual, Next Generation Partner, or Rising Star. Not every good solicitor submits for ranking, and not every ranked solicitor is the right fit for every case — but the rankings are a reliable starting filter when you don't know where to begin.
What to look for
The single most important factor is relevant experience. A solicitor who handles cases like yours regularly will be faster, more confident, and less likely to miss something important. Ask directly: how many cases like mine have you dealt with in the last two years? The answer tells you more than a firm's general ranking.
Beyond experience, consider whether the firm specialises in family law exclusively or treats it as one of several departments. For anything contested — financial remedy, children proceedings where both sides are represented — a dedicated practice consistently outperforms a general solicitor. Understand how they charge before you instruct, get an estimate in writing, and ask what specific events would require that estimate to be revised.
Your first meeting
Most firms offer a free or reduced-cost initial consultation. Come with a clear account of your situation, any key documents (marriage certificate, recent financial information, relevant correspondence), and a sense of the outcome you are hoping for. Use the meeting to assess both their legal knowledge and whether you can work with them — you may be dealing with this firm for months or longer.
Before you leave, ask for a written cost estimate and a realistic timescale. Ask who will handle your case day-to-day (not just who you met), how they will keep you updated, and what alternatives to court — mediation, arbitration, collaborative law — they would consider appropriate for your situation.