Our Client Care Standards
We insist our staff meet certain standards with regard to the care of our clients to ensure that we provide a quality service.
Our commitment to you is as follows:
- You will receive copies of all significant letters unless you request otherwise.
- Telephone calls will be returned during the course of the same day wherever possible.
- Letters received will be dealt with within five days wherever possible.
- Urgent matters will be dealt with on the same day. Decisions as to the level of urgency are left with the solicitor dealing with the matter alongside other urgent matters.
- Our letters to clients and other parties are written in plain English that you are able to understand easily.
- Appointments are given to clients as quickly as possible bearing in mind court and other commitments.
- We will keep you informed of the progress of your case, especially if we decide we need to do something urgently, which we have not yet discussed with you. Equally, we will keep you appraised of the progress of your case periodically. If you do not require us to do so then you should advise us accordingly.
- We will tell you of any delay and the reason for it.
- We will explain the effect of any important and relevant papers.
- We will tell you about any significant changes and the likely cost of the matter.
- If a different person needs to assume responsibility for your case we will tell you the name of that person and the reason for the change.
- We will discuss with you any risks and the likelihood of succeeding with your case. Sometimes the advice we give and our view of what may happen may be hard to accept. We understand this and we are happy to explain our advice thoroughly. We are all specialist in the area of family law and will have considered very carefully every aspect of the case. We will encourage you to keep the interest of any children you may have at the centre of all our discussions.
When your case has finished we will:
- Confirm the details and effect of the outcome and explain to you anything further that needs to be done including whether you need to look at the matter again in the future.
- Return any of your property, unless you ask us to store it.
- Account to you for any outstanding monies. Please note that this may involve some delay while the court and Legal Services Commission (LSC) check your legal costs.
Your Family Lawyer
You will be told who is dealing with your matter, but there may be occasions when your case will have to be dealt with by someone else in the firm. All of our solicitors are specialists in family law and will be able to assist you in the absence of the person who normally handles matters for you, but we appreciate that a change can be stressful and this will only happen in unavoidable circumstances.
Client Feedback
We constantly strive to improve the service we provide and you will periodically receive questionnaires from us asking for feedback. Please feel free at any stage however, to let us know if there is something you feel that we could be doing better, or indeed anything we are doing particularly well. Any such matters should be referred to the Practice Manager, Sally Cook.
I want to say thank-you for the work you put into my case over the last few weeks. It was...
I just wanted to take the opportunity to say a big thank you for all the hard work and support...
I would just like to take this opportunity to once again pass on my immense gratitude and thanks to you...
Nether’ stop pedalling!
posted by Hartnell Chanot in Children. 18/06/13
On the 20th June 2013, Hartnell Chanot & Partners Director, Julia Clayton will set off on an epic 200 mile bicycle ride through Holland. This will be the 12th annual Biking for Children in Care long distance cycle ride and …
Lawyers unite for minute of action to warn of devastating effects of legal aid cuts
posted by Hartnell Chanot in Featured News. 18/06/13
Lawyers across England and Wales are planning a nationwide moment of unity to express their genuine concern and alarm at the Government’s plan to cut criminal legal aid to the point where the long-term effects could have devastating and irreversible …