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Top Ten Ways To Avoid Problems with your Lawyer in Cyprus
Many new clients come to me having instructed a lawyer and then encountered problems with him/her. Clients are often left wondering where it all went wrong with their old lawyer and whether they could have avoided the situation. I have seen first hand the heart ache and distress that this can cause and I cannot deny there are some difficult lawyers out there to deal with. However, I firmly believe that you can avoid all the problems with some careful thought and prudent questioning, before instructing your lawyer.
Here are my top ten tips for avoiding getting into problems with your lawyer in Cyprus:
- Hint Number 1 – Find An Independent Lawyer
I cannot emphasise enough how important it is that your lawyer is independent. If you instruct the lawyer that the other side is using then this is a sure fire way to get into trouble. Think about it – would you instruct the same lawyer as the other party in the UK?
2. Hint Number 2 – Get An Estimation of Costs
Don’t leave yourself open to confusions later on. A lawyer should always be able to provide you with a clear estimation of the exact costs of a transaction. All the costs involved in a transaction must be clear from the very start, if he/she cannot provide you with this (in writing) – find another lawyer!
3. Hint Number 3 – Does He/She carry Indemnity Insurance?
In the UK every practising Solicitor must carry full indemnity insurance – but do not assume that this is the case in Cyprus. Hopefully you will never need to use the insurance – but if anything did go wrong and you made a loss, you need to know your losses will definitely be covered.
4. Hint Number 4 – Does He/She Reply To Initial Contact Promptly?
One of the number one complaints about lawyers in Cyprus seems to be that they are slow! If the lawyer you choose does not reply to your initial contact quickly expect the same throughout your transaction – find someone else!
- Hint Number 5 – Reputation is Everything
There are numerous resources for finding out about what other people think of a lawyer in Cyprus. Ask around and you’ll get a very quick idea as to what past clients think of that lawyer. Ex pat discussion forums are also a valuable source of information and can often give you a better idea about a lawyer than his/her own website (if they have one!)
6. Hint Number 6 – Get It All In Writing
Once you’ve instructed a lawyer in Cyprus – make sure that you get all his/her advice down in writing. That way there can be no confusion as to what was said during a phone conversation.
7. Hint Number 7 – Ask Questions
Your lawyer is human – he/she can not be expected to advise on every case scenario in your transaction, however remote – so ask as many questions as you can. He/she needs to take the time to explain the transaction to you so you understand – so make sure you ask plenty of questions.
8. Hint Number 8 –Use the Support Staff
You need to remember your lawyer has other clients and transactions going on and cannot be available to speak to you at any given time. If he/she is not available then often the support staffs are familiar with the files. They should be able to answer routine questions for you when your lawyer is busy.
9. Hint Number 9 – Know Your Rights
You need to know that if you are experiencing problems with your lawyer in Cyprus you are not alone. The lawyer should have a complaints procedure in place at his/her firm which you can follow if you have a problem. Moreover, for really serious issues, you can consult the Bar Association on whether your lawyer has acted appropriately.
10. Hint Number 10 – Remember The System Is Different
The legal system in Cyprus is different to the UK and your lawyer should be able to explain those differences to you. You cannot expect the same procedures, searches and checks to be carried out in Cyprus as would be carried out in the UK, so make sure you have a lawyer you can trust who can guide you through the system. Never presume that because it happens in the UK, it must also happen in Cyprus.
© Louise Zambartas
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