Trusted solicitors
offering reliable, honest and professional service since 1836
where client interest is at the heart of everything we do
As leading and longest established solicitors in Stoke on Trent. Our team consists of The Law Society accredited specialist Family law solicitors, Care solicitors, Criminal solicitors, and Mental Health solicitors. We also hold CQS, The Law Society's quality mark for legal experts in buying or selling property and are trusted by some of the UK's biggest lenders.
Our specialisation in our key areas make us experts rather than 'jack of all trades'.
Our specialist solicitors are here to provide thorough and confidential legal advice.
We are a Law Society Lexcel accredited firm which indicates our high standards of practice and advice. Our expertise lies in the Legal Aid work under the Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) Public Funding Schemes. These schemes are available to people who cannot afford to pay legal costs. As expert family law solicitors, we can advise you on all family matters (to include Domestic Abuse). Our Care solicitors, Mental Health solicitors and Criminal solicitors are all accredited by The Law Society and are able to offer advice under Legal Aid.
As one of the longest established Legal Aid solicitors in Stoke-on-Trent, we have been helping people of Stoke-on-Trent since 1836. We have helped thousands of people move house, represented parents and children in care proceedings, advised couples through the trauma of family breakdown and represented many in criminal defence litigation.
We pride ourselves in putting the client interest at the heart of everything we do. Each matter we deal with is given personal attention by a solicitor, whether it is moving house or a court case requiring representation by our criminal solicitors, rest assured that you are in safe hands.
We believe in transparency and therefore list our fees on our website. This is so our clients are aware of how much we are going to charge them in from the outset.
Our main office is in Longton. We have branch offices in Newcastle-under-Lyme (trading as Cooks Solicitors) and in Aylesford, Kent (trading as David Stinson & Co).
Services
Family
Legal Aid available
Our family law solicitors deal with the problems that arise on the breakdown of family relationships, whether they are difficulties with partners, children or families. We are on The Law Society Family Law Solicitors Panel so you can be assured that you will receive specialist, personally tailored legal advice.
Public Funding or ‘Legal aid’ is available for Care Proceedings and Domestic Violence/Domestic Abuse/injunctions (where financially eligible).
Care
Legal Aid available
Our Care solicitors have over 15 years’ of experience within this very specific field of law. Being on The Law Society Children Law Panel means that we are able to represent any party within Care proceedings, either the parent(s), the child(ren) or other family members.
Our specialist team aims to have a detailed knowledge of your case throughout. This enables us to offer a very hands on and personal touch to help you through one of the most difficult times in your life.
Mental Health
Legal Aid available
We are accredited member of The Law Society Mental Health Panel. Whether you are facing intervention from a statutory agency or are concerned about someone you care for, we can help give you clear legal advice and guide you to a positive outcome.
Mental Health is an extremely specialised area of law and because of the serious nature, if you are formally detained under The Mental Health Act 1983, you are entitled to be represented and our work will be fully funded by the Legal Aid Agency. You do not have to pay anything for our services.
Criminal Defence
Legal Aid available
We are accredited Criminal Defence specialists under The Law Society Criminal Litigation accreditation scheme. Our Criminal solicitors deal with all matters involving criminal law. This includes police station advice to representation at Magistrates, Crown Courts and appeal courts.
We are also members of the duty solicitor scheme and provide an emergency 24 hour telephone advice line: 07768 746 134.
Personal Injury
No Win No Fee offered
Our personal injury department assists clients in recovering compensation for injuries that they suffer in situations like road traffic accidents, accidents at work or in public places etc.
We tend to undertake all matters on a no win no fee arrangement whereby clients pay nothing if the claim fails. Clients only pay a maximum of 25% of their compensation if their claim is successful. We only charge when clients receive their compensation.
Medical Negligence
No Win No Fee offered
Our medical negligence department specialises in matters where individuals have suffered illness or injuries as a result of poor treatment or negligence by doctors, dentists or hospital staff.
Our specialist solicitors work hard to ensure our clients receive the most compensation and the best possible care to help them cope with the situation.
Wills & Probate
Our wills & probate department deals with all wills, probate, property planning, Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection matters.
We pride ourselves in providing a personal, helpful service covering all aspects of your requirements. This includes the drafting of wills and testamentary advice to probate and assistance when things go wrong, including contentious probate matters and court proceedings.
Property
We are proud to hold Law Society Legal Excellence and The Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation so you can trust us to handle your affairs and take away the hassle of legal work involved in a property transaction.
We deal with all property matters including purchases, sale, lease, rental and rights to buy.
Civil
You may have entered a contract with a person or business and something has gone wrong. We will advise what you can do and how we can help you with the matter including any court action if required.
Our team of experienced solicitors can assist you and provide advice and assistance with any court action. As court action is costly we will try to assist you in resolving the problem either before you go to court or how it can be concluded as quickly and at the least cost to you as possible.
Legal Blog
What is an injunction? What does it mean? Who can apply for it?
Anyone can find themselves trapped in an abusive relationship. Often unsure about what to do, how to get out, to protect themselves and their children from domestic abuse. Sometimes people don’t recognise when they are in fact in a controlling or abusive relationship until very many incidents leave them frightened lost isolated and unsure of what legal
What to expect when moving home?
Moving Home – A major life event. Although moving house will be one of the most exciting things you will do in your life, it will probably also be one of the most stressful, with only life changing events such as the death of a loved one, divorce, and the loss of a job featuring
Considerations when choosing a solicitor
When it comes to choosing a solicitor, two of the biggest concerns that people have is what sort of service they are going to receive and what amount they are going to be charged by them.
Getting a Divorce? Here is a guide to the process.
Getting a divorce is a stressful time and not knowing the procedure only adds to this stress. This divorce guide will help you understand your options. Reasons for divorce You cannot apply for a divorce until you have been married for at least one year. A divorce will be granted by the court if either