The world of Scottish legal help is vast. While this makes it an excellent system for dealing with a range of important legal proceedings, it can take time to know where to turn when you need a legal advisor.
In this guide, we’ll explain the key types of Scottish legal advisors so that you can find the best place to begin your search for representation and determine the answer to the question, ‘which legal services do you need?’.
Table of Contents
Find A Legal Expert
Before pursuing any Scottish legal help, it is best to consult someone with legal expertise. Though there are some cases in which you will be allowed to represent yourself in court (such as for minor offences like parking tickets), consulting a professional lawyer or solicitor is always advised to ensure you are best protected.
Family Law Services
Family law is one of the most common forms of legal help. Some of the things which fall under this category include:
- Divorce
- Marriage
- Custody of children
- Division of assets
Family lawyers are trained to help make difficult decisions much easier by playing the middle-man role in tricky cases such as divorce and custody battles.
They are there to ensure that their client gets the best results possible from what could otherwise be a difficult period, but they are also trained to help think about what is best for children involved in such cases – paying careful attention to their safeguarding.
Criminal Law Help
Criminal law is a vast area due to the number of things which fall under its umbrella. A criminal offence can be anything from an unpaid parking ticket to a murder, so a large range of lawyers are involved with these kinds of cases.
If you seek help for a criminal case, you can approach a private lawyer or have your local courts provide you with one.
Estate Planning
Estate planning is another common area of law that most people will interact with as they get older. For most people, estate planning will cover things such as:
- Creating a will
- Picking a guardian for your children in case something happens to you
- To minimise taxes
- To assign a beneficiary
On a larger scale, it may delegate a large estate to various people and charities. It is important to work closely with a solicitor who understands your financial situation when reviving this type of legal help.
Immigration Law
There are a variety of reasons why immigration law might be needed. Some of the most common include:
- Applying for a visa
- Applying for citizenship
- Obtaining a work permit
- To seek asylum
- To handle deportation proceedings
Immigration can be a tricky type of law to navigate and can often lead to various social debates and issues.
When dealing with immigration proceedings, it’s always best to have a strong lawyer who can accurately state your case and help you maintain the legal rights you deserve.
Personal Injury Law Services
If you have been injured in an accident or due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against them.
For example, if you slip over and break you leg at a supermarket, but there was no wet floor sign to warn you, you could sue them for damages.
A personal injury lawyer can help you with filing a claim, negotiating a settlement, or representing you in court.
Employment Law
Employment law is commonly confused with business law, but while business law deals with economic matters, employment law protects employees. It encompasses things such as:
- Helping those experiencing discrimination
- Helping those experiencing harassment
- Fighting against wrongful termination
- Aiding with wage disputes
While most companies will have HR departments, employment lawyers help those who have cases which go above internal matters. They help employees who have been wronged fight for reprimands and justice.
Business Law
Business law encompasses all things to do with starting a business, running a business and various trade deals. It can also be used for negotiating contracts, dealing with intellectual property rights (and issues that might arise from these), or seeking legal guidance in commercial transactions.
Intellectual Property Rights Law
IP law is a common type of law which intersects with business. It covers everything, including:
- Applying for a patent or trademark
- Copywriting intellectual property
- Other forms of IP dispute resolution
Intellectual property is an increasingly important type of legal right. Once someone owns the rights to an invention, they are entitled to sue anyone who copies their invention for intellectual property infringement.
These cases can be long, complicated and very expensive for the parties involved – especially when dealing with large companies.
So, Which Type Of Legal Advisor Do You Need?
With so many different types of lawyers and solicitors, it can take time to conclude the type of legal advisor you need. We hope this article has helped to give you an impression of the different types of legal advisors available and where you can turn for advice.
