Which legal position is higher?

[Simpo Two]

I need to employ the services of a legal person to sort out a land dispute, and am considering people at two firms of solicitors.

One is a Chartered Legal Executive, the other a Senior Paralegal. Which one is more likely to get it right?

Also, if there are any PHers who specialise in the area of prescriptive rights and/or adverse posession I'd be delighted to receive a PM from you

[ElectricPics]

The Chartered Legal Exec is much more qualified than the Paralegal, but experience can, as ever, be worth more than qualifications.

[Simpo Two]

Thanks - the Exec has more experience I think, and my trust in the Paralegal was slightly knocked when he told me prescriptive rights were 12 years. No, they're 20.

The work is up for grabs right now.

[Jobbo]

Simpo Two said:

my trust in the Paralegal was slightly knocked when he told me prescriptive rights were 12 years. No, they're 20.

Depends - still 12 years for acquiring unregistered land by adverse possession, but 10 years to get possessory title of registered land with an upgrade possible after a further 10 to absolute title; and prescriptive easements take 20 years to acquire. Don't write him off based on just that one statement.

[Simpo Two]

Jobbo said:

Simpo Two said:

my trust in the Paralegal was slightly knocked when he told me prescriptive rights were 12 years. No, they're 20.

Depends - still 12 years for acquiring unregistered land by adverse possession, but 10 years to get possessory title of registered land with an upgrade possible after a further 10 to absolute title; and prescriptive easements take 20 years to acquire. Don't write him off based on just that one statement.

Impressive, thanks. They never seem to tell you everything in one go.

[InitialDave]

Simpo Two said:

They never seem to tell you everything in one go.

Put another coin in the slot for that!

[Simpo Two]

InitialDave said:

Put another coin in the slot for that!

I see where you're coming from, but it means you can't assess the chance of victory before commencing battle.

[InitialDave]

Well, it depends how you ask the question, and what you want. It's not specific to legal stuff, it's true for everything. Some people just want the yes/no answer, others want the full ins and outs.

In my area (aerospace engineering), I'll often be asked "can we do X?". How much of an answer I give depends who's asking and how tightly they've defined the metrics of it.

[Zod]

Shouldn't you be speaking at least initially with a solicitor at either firm, who will then get the other person to do most of the work?

[anonymous-user]

Simpo Two said:

I need to employ the services of a legal person to sort out a land dispute, and am considering people at two firms of solicitors.

One is a Chartered Legal Executive, the other a Senior Paralegal. Which one is more likely to get it right?

Also, if there are any PHers who specialise in the area of prescriptive rights and/or adverse possession I'd be delighted to receive a PM from you

Not my field, but I know of a couple of barristers who do direct access work in property law (by direct access I mean no solicitor needed) . PM me if interested. Remember that there are good lawyers and cheap lawyers but they aren't usually the same people.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 9th November 15:50

[Simpo Two]

Zod said:

Shouldn't you be speaking at least initially with a solicitor at either firm, who will then get the other person to do most of the work?

They were the people my calls were directed to when I enquired. I imagine the execs/paras are the first resort and they refer it up if they get stuck - but it could be too late but then, and time/money wasted. My view is that I'd rather pay an expert twice as much for half as long...!

[anonymous-user]

Given client care rules and all that I am surprised that you were put on to a paralegal straight away. There has to be a solicitor supervising the work, even in a nominal way.

[Zod]

Breadvan72 said:

Given client care rules and all that I am surprised that you were put on to a paralegal straight away. There has to be a solicitor supervising the work, even in a nominal way.

Exactly.

[anonymous-user]

It works this way:

Instruct Zod's megafirm to give advice and Zod (partner) will get the senior associate to get the junior associate to get the trainee to get the paralegal to get the intern to get the work experience student to look it up on Wikipedia.

Instruct me and I look it up on Wikipedia myself (OK, I get a pupil to do it. OK, a mini-pupil.)

[Zod]

Breadvan72 said:

It works this way:

Instruct Zod's megafirm to give advice and Zod (partner) will get the senior associate to get the junior associate to get the trainee to get the paralegal to get the intern to get the work experience student to look it up on Wikipedia.

Instruct me and I look it up on Wikipedia myself (OK, I get a pupil to do it. OK, a mini-pupil.)

Quiet, man!

[anonymous-user]

Ooops, sozzer.

[Simpo Two]

Teehee, I seem to have stumbled into nest of legals!

PMs are sent and thank you in advance for any input you can give. The case is clear enough but the opponent will fight so it's a question of anticipating any escape routes and planning for a tribunal. When my ducks are in a row I'm happy

[anonymous-user]

Breadvan72 said:

It works this way:

Instruct Zod's megafirm to give advice and Zod (partner) will get the senior associate to get the junior associate to get the trainee to get the paralegal to get the intern to get the work experience student to look it up on Wikipedia.

Instruct me and I look it up on Wikipedia myself (OK, I get a pupil to do it. OK, a mini-pupil.)

And there's the difference between solicitors and barristers.

Use a solicitor, and you have to pay the fees of seven people to get your advice. Use a barrister, and you only have to pay the fees of three people for that advice.

Well, school fees don't pay themselves you know!

[Zod]

Greg66 said:

Breadvan72 said:

It works this way:

Instruct Zod's megafirm to give advice and Zod (partner) will get the senior associate to get the junior associate to get the trainee to get the paralegal to get the intern to get the work experience student to look it up on Wikipedia.

Instruct me and I look it up on Wikipedia myself (OK, I get a pupil to do it. OK, a mini-pupil.)

And there's the difference between solicitors and barristers.

Use a solicitor, and you have to pay the fees of seven people to get your advice. Use a barrister, and you only have to pay the fees of three people for that advice.

Well, school fees don't pay themselves you know!

No, Greg, when you use a barrister, you have to pay the seven at the solicitor's firm plus the three in chambers.

It's all perfectly reasonable and good value though.

[anonymous-user]

To be fair, the interns and students and mini pupils are free. Megabargain.