My areas of specialisation
I have been a family lawyer for the whole of my career since 1977, advising both married and unmarried couples, grandparents etc. about all aspects of divorce and family law, the law of cohabitation, children issues such as contact, residence, specific issues and prohibited steps orders; financial settlements and negotiations, pre-nuptial or cohabitation agreements etc.
I have also worked in the fields of civil litigation, personal injury, licensing of restaurants pubs and hotels, criminal law and road traffic law.
Apart from my family work (which takes up probably 75% of my time) I deal with simple contract disputes, debt collection and other sundry contentious issues but about 25% of my time is spent dealing with my increasingly busy road traffic law practice. I have built this up over the last 20 years and have a strong reputation advising and representing clients on a varied case load of road traffic offences and prosecutions from a simple speeding offence to very serious accidents involving injury or death. I regularly appear to represent clients in both the Magistrates Court and the Family Court and will only instruct a barrister when it is absolutely necessary to do so.
My clients benefit from the fact that when they instruct me I act for them throughout the case, unless I have to be in two places at once or am on holiday. In those cases Sarah will cover any hearing or a barrister will be instructed as appropriate and is often sensible to instruct a barrister for a final hearing particularly in matters that are contested.
My motto is: If you instruct David, you get David.
I use technology to enhance communications. My preferred methods of contact are by mobile phone and email to speed up the process.
I am not limited to working 9-5. Often I can respond to clients’ needs outside of those times at evenings and weekends and appointments can be made after 5pm or before 9am or at weekends when necessary to meet the client’s needs.
My charges
Typically solicitors with my experience working from an office will charge in the region of £225 – £250 per hour plus VAT.
My hourly rate is £200 plus VAT but I offer a fixed fee for all uncontested divorces (excluding specific issues regarding finances, property and children), although where appropriate I will agree a fixed charge for carrying out a particular piece of work or attending a hearing, and I provide fixed fees in all my road traffic cases. In this way the client will know in advance how much he or she will be charged and where appropriate the client is asked for a payment on account of costs and I always ask for a payment on account of expenses such as Court fees.
Initial consultation
I offer a free first consultation to all clients either by telephone, email or ideally at a face to face meeting so that I can get to know my prospective clients and understand their issues and needs and so that they can meet me and form their own impression as to whether they wish to instruct me.
Clients find me approachable, able and understanding.
Memberships
I am a member of the Law Society, Resolution (a national body of family lawyers) and the Bournemouth and District Law Society.
Other client needs
Often my clients need advice on subjects that I do not specialise in. My philosophy includes finding the right lawyer, whom I know and trust to look after my clients, to undertake that piece of work and I have a large referral network.
Related websites
Our main family law website is
www.jwlaw.co.uk
My Road Traffic website is:
www.trafficsolicitordorset.co.uk
If you need advice about family law, road traffic offences, or debt recovery please contact me.