The importance of legal advice

If you’re trying to find good legal advice or need someone to represent you, a qualified solicitor is your best bet. While we here at Law on the Web strive to offer as much free advice on legal issues as we can, there is a limit to how far this kind of general information can take you - and when you need specific assistance, speaking to a solicitor is the best route to take. Nonetheless, we understand that it’s no easy task to find a solicitor you can trust and that many people don’t even know where to start. Most of us tend to think of the legal world as a somewhat unwelcoming place, defined by its confusing legal jargon and unapproachable experts. Despite this, there’s absolutely no denying that getting the right solicitor is extremely important, no matter what case you need them to handle. You don’t want to rely on just anyone for legal help - you have the right to demand an assurance that you’re being advised by a professional, seasoned lawyer who is suitable for offering you counsel on whatever matters of law you may need addressed.

Choosing the right lawyer

The quality of lawyers can differ widely within the legal industry. Though a great many of the solicitors out there are hard-working and knowledgeable professionals seeking the best legal outcome for their clients, there are equally those who don’t possess the necessary awareness of the law and its technicalities and don’t really care about finding a satisfactory resolution to the problems faced by those who’ve come to them for help - though they’ll still be happy to charge them for it. When searching for the right solicitors, it’s important that you find a way to differentiate between the two. The right solicitor for your needs will demonstrate experience and expertise in legal matters, with an up-to-date knowledge of the relevant laws and the ability to offer professional help and take further legal action if it’s required in your specific circumstances. Leaving your choice of lawyer up to mere chance is never a good move - especially given the potential repercussions when dealing with a subject as complicated as law. But when you don’t have any experience in dealing with solicitors, just the task of picking out the good from the bad can be something of a daunting task. When you’re not sure exactly what the legal qualifications and titles actually mean, it’s perfectly reasonable that you’d have concerns about the possibility of ending up with a legal practitioner who is far from being the most suitable solicitor for your needs.

Find a solicitor

Because we know that many are intimidated by the idea of trying to find a solicitor on their own, here at Law on the Web we realised just how much it would benefit our visitors if we could come up with a way around this obstacle. As a result we ended up creating our absolutely free Find a Solicitor service, a helpful solicitor search system designed to be simple to use for everyone who needs it. All you have to do to use our Find a Solicitor service is submit your details and some information about the legal issues you’re facing, using our clear and easy-to-complete form. Once we receive these specifics, we’ll work to match you up with the ideal solicitor for your individual legal needs and put them in touch with you for a free initial consultation. After this you are free to accept their legal services for further help or choose not to take your case any further - you can cancel without hassle because using our service is completely free of obligation and won’t cost you a penny. Regardless of the legal field you need assistance in - whether you’re looking for employment solicitors, personal injury lawyers, conveyancing specialists or motoring law experts - we’re confident you’ll find the ideal solution here at Law on the Web. Because we understand the complexities of the legal industry, we’re able to ensure top-quality advice and exceptional service from all of the solicitors in our registry. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by just how simple it can be to find a professional solicitor at no cost to yourself - why not try us out today?

Should I sign the NIP response form?
The question on many people's lips - see our comments here

When should you get one?

The following offences require (under Section 1 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 - you'll find the whole Act here) that you be given notice of the fact that you may be prosecuted:-
a) Dangerous Driving
b) Careless & Inconsiderate driving
c) Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous place
d) Dangerous cycling
e) Careless & Inconsiderate cycling
f) Failing to conform with the indication of a police officer when directing traffic
g) Failing to comply with a traffic sign
h) Exceeding temporary speed restrictions imposed by s 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
i) Exceeding speed restrictions on a special road
j) Exceeding temporary speed limit imposed by order
k) Speeding offences generally

What form must the notice take?

It can be :-
a) given verbally at the time of the offence, or 
b) by a summons being served on the offender within 14 days of commission of the offence, or 
c) a notice of intended prosecution, specifying the nature of the offence and the time and place where it is alleged to have been committed, must be served on the offender, or the registered keeper of the vehicle at the time of the offence, within 14 days of the offence.
These provisions are deemed to have been complied with unless or until the contrary has been proved (ie you will have to raise it).

If you have not been given the notice within 14 days (ignoring the day of the offence) then they cannot proceed against you unless an exception applies (see below).

Exceptions & Get Outs

a) No such notice is required if a full or provisional fixed penalty notice has been given or fixed under the Provisions of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988
b) A notice sent by post must be dispatched so that it would reach the driver within the 14 days within the ordinary course of the post. If this is the case then it will have been deemed to have been served even if it is delivered outside the 14 day period.
c) If there is an accident involving the vehicle in question, of which the driver is aware, then the police do not need to provide a Notice of Intended Prosecution.
d) Failure to comply is no bar where the police could not with reasonable  diligence have ascertained the name and address of the accused in time for service of the summons or notice within the 14 day period, or the accused contributed to such failure. [These are our highlights - might apply for example if you drive a hire car, company car or you were not the registered keeper]
e) Service of a notice at the last known address of the accused will suffice for good service.

Do you need to respond to a Notice of Intended Prosecution?

Under European legislation and now our own Human Rights Act, the answer was thought to be "No". But this loophole now seems to have been closed by the courts - check out the latest by clicking here.