Pickup and Scott has a team of specialist solicitors, with a wide range of expertise.

Sometimes I think it is easier to explain what we do not do than what we cover, so let us start off with that.

At our practice, we do not offer conveyancing; this is the service you need when you are buying and selling houses. We are also not able to offer Family Law which covers divorce, relationship breakdown and disputes regarding children. We do however have a strong network of local contacts and are more than happy to refer clients to other firms that can help with these areas of law.

We do have a team of specialist solicitors who have an extensive range of knowledge and expertise when it comes to Criminal Law, Prison Law, Mental Health Law, Immigration Law and Private Law. Letus outline what these cover:

• Criminal Law is about representing people accused of a crime
• Prison Law is about advising someone who is in prison about such issues as parole
• Mental Health Law is about people who are in a hospital and have not agreed to the admission
• Immigration Law is for people coming to this country and about their rights to stay
• Private Law covers what happens to your money and property when you die, looking after someone who cannot look after themselves and generally protect someone’s property.

These areas of law are very specialised and every member of our team who is involved in giving advice has been specially trained. We also have to ensure that our advice is up to date, so you can trust that we provide current and informed advice.

There may not be an obvious link between the different types of law we cover, but our aim is to provide the best support to people who need our help.

A Typical Day in the Office

When you work with this range of specialist solicitors, there is no such thing as a typical day. Our lawyers may be going out to see people in court, in prisons, in hospitals, or in their homes if they cannot get to us. We often get contacted by people in police stations, hospitals and prisons, who need urgent help. So even if we plan ahead, our schedule can change as we provide an immediate response.

With people coming in and solicitors going out, you can see the benefit of a strong team that also includes office-based staff. If you give us a call, you won’t get directly through to a solicitor. Be prepared to let us know what area of law you wish to discuss and we will ensure you get to speak to the right person.

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David Pickup – Senior Partner – Head of Mental Health Law