The roots of our firm Hannays Solicitors and Advocates Ltd., can be traced back to the 1890’s in South Shields when the original Hannay and Hannay Solicitors became established in the town. This means we have been serving our clients for over 130 years and this makes us one of the oldest established firms of solicitors in the South Tyneside area.
We have gone through some changes over that period of time. The firm was established as a Partnership which eventually merged with Graeme Cook Solicitors in 2006, and then changed name to Hannays Solicitors and Advocates when there were more changes in 2012.
On 1st May 2022 we started to trade as a Limited Company and we are now known as Hannays Solicitors and Advocates Limited.
We specialise in conveyancing, family/children law and private client services:
- Domestic conveyancing
- Family and Children Law
- Wills, probate and trusts
- Court of Protection,
- Elderly and vulnerable client services
We hold a contract with the Legal Aid Agency to provide publicly funded work for Family & Children legal services.
Most of our clients live in South Tyneside but we have many clients who live in the wider North-Eastern area, as well as clients from other regions in England and Wales. Some of our clients reside outside the United Kingdom but need legal work carrying out for them in England.
We can only carry out legal work for our clients in England and Wales.
We like to think that our continued success is based on our commitment and dedication to working in the best interests of our clients at all times.
From the onset
From the onset we aim to provide high quality advice and legal services, whether privately or publicly funded in a clear, frank and honest manner.
As part of our service we will always explain the potential costs involved and the options available. This ensures there are no hidden costs or nasty surprises later. We work with our clients to determine the best course of action and whether it is worthwhile proceeding.
Unless we can’t do the work, for instance, if a client requests us to do some work outside our areas of expertise, we are always happy to provide a quotation provided on the available information prior to being instructed.
For most of our private client matters including conveyancing we provide a comprehensive fixed fee quotation prior to instructions being accepted. Our quotations include disbursements, like Court fees, taxes and Land Registry fees. This gives our clients a complete picture of what they should expect to pay throughout their matter. Sometimes there are unexpected events or new information that affects the course of a matter and adds to expenditure but if this occurs we always explain properly to our clients why there is a need for the additional expense so it is clearly understood.
Funding options are explained including whether Legal Aid is an option for our family and children matters. If Legal Aid is not available we try to help by being as flexible as possible with payment options.
We also explain how we bill and expect to be paid. Usually for privately funded family matters, payments are requested from the client during the transaction to cover costs and disbursements which means at the end of the matter only a small amount remains to be paid to us. For a conveyancing purchase we only request payment for the search fees at the start of the matter. At the end of a conveyancing matter we issue a completion statement which sets out the whole transaction.
From 13th January 2018 we stopped accepting credit card payments.
Quality legal services
We provide a quality legal service and can demonstrate this as we have held the Law Society Lexcel Quality Mark since 2012 and receive excellent client feedback.
Lexcel is developed specifically for the Legal Profession. It is an optional, recognised accreditation scheme for law firms which gives assurances that a practice meets the highest client care and business management standards.
We are a member of the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS).
We are Contracted with the Legal Aid Agency to provide public funding for children services and also certain family matters.
Our Children solicitor is a member of the Law Society Children Panel and our family lawyers are all members of Resolution.
Our Practice Administrator completed the Lexcel Consultant training but does not work as a Lexcel Consultant.
Prior to our Lexcel accreditation we held the Legal Services Commission Quality Mark.
Please read how we respect our clients data privacy here
Accessibility
We are committed to using plain English in our communications and to keep our clients fully informed. We also use a range of interpreting services to assist our clients if English is not their first language or to assist hearing and sight disabled clients.
We will also make home visits within the South Tyneside, Sunderland, and Washington areas at no extra charge for disabled, elderly or infirm clients who cannot visit us at our office – not many firms offer this service.
Our offices are open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays.
Our phone calls are recorded for monitoring and training purposes.
Our details
Hannays Solicitors and Advocates Limited is a Company registered in the United Kingdom and authorised to practise in England and Wales.
Our Registered office is at 19 Beach Road, South Shields, NE33 2QA.
Our Company Registration Number is 13923492.
Directors: Kim Clifford Rainford and Gillian Wright.
The Firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Our SRA number is: 839162.
Our VAT number is : 178344144
Details of our indemnity insurance is available upon request.
Our Complaints Procedure : Hannays Complaints Procedure V.1.4.23
The SRA Code of Practice for Solicitors can be accessed here.
Our Data Protection Officer is: Kim Clifford Rainford and we are registered as a Data Controller with the Information Commissioner.
