Michael Carroll & Co — Terms of Business
Michael Carroll & Co is a firm of solicitors based at 281 Archway Road, Highgate, London, N6 5AA. We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 307837). You can check our registration at www.sra.org.uk.
These Terms of Business apply to all work we carry out for you unless we agree otherwise in writing.
We will:
We will not:
Your instructions may be given in person, by telephone, email or in writing as agreed.
You agree to:
If you qualify for legal aid, we will explain the process and assist with the application. You must provide the financial information required by the Legal Aid Agency. You may have to pay incomebased contributions in Crown Court cases. If you are acquitted of all charges in the Crown Court, any contributions you have paid will be refunded by the Legal Aid Agency. If you are convicted, the court may order you to pay a contribution towards the cost of the prosecution case. This is separate from legal aid and is determined by the court.
Where legal aid is not available, we will act on a private basis. We will provide a clear estimate or fixed fee before work begins.
For motoring matters, we offer fixed fees covering:
Fixed fees do not include:
VAT is charged at the prevailing rate (currently 20%). Disbursements (such as expert fees or travel costs) will be agreed with you in advance. VAT will usually be applied to disbursements. Our VAT Number is 740 475 537.
We operate a FixedFee Service and private fees are payable before work commences or as otherwise agreed. We may charge interest on unpaid invoices at 8% above the Bank of England base rate.
We do not hold client money.
We treat all information you provide as confidential. We may disclose information only where required by law, including:
We are legally required to verify your identity and, where relevant, the source of funds. We may use electronic verification services. If satisfactory evidence is not provided, we may be unable to act.
We process personal data in accordance with UK GDPR. Our Privacy Policy explains:
You can view it on our website or request a copy.
We hold professional indemnity insurance as required by the SRA. Details of our insurer are available on request.
We aim to provide an excellent service. If you are unhappy, please contact us so we can resolve the issue. If we cannot resolve your complaint, you may contact the Legal Ombudsman:
Legal Ombudsman
Telephone: 0300 555 0333
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Post: PO Box 6167, Slough, SL1 0EH
Full details are available in our Complaints Policy.
We are committed to providing services that are fair, accessible and free from discrimination. A copy of our Equality & Diversity statement is available on request.
You may end your instructions at any time. We may stop acting if:
We will give reasonable notice if we need to stop acting.
We store files securely for at least six years after your case concludes, or longer where required by law. We may charge a reasonable fee for retrieving archived files or providing copies.
These Terms of Business are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.