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	Based in Salisbury, Wilts - tel.(01722) 417111 / 417112 or contact us

What is a Client Based Solicitor?

While other practices compartmentalise legal services into rigid areas of expertise - mostly brought about for administrative purposes because of their size, this can be of little use or relevance to a client who needs a friendly face to provide them with a solution for their needs or problems.

At Stoddart & Company one contact will be your guide through whatever legal requirements you may have, someone you can get to know and rely on not just for a current issue, but someone that you can call upon for any help you may need in the future.

Why Should I Use One?

With a Client Based Solicitor there is no confusion about who is responsible for what, no interdepartmental rivalry - your contact, Peter Stoddart, has sole responsibility for all the legal work, and undertakes it all personally.

You are encouraged to work in partnership with the practice to achieve the client's realistic, cost effective objectives, and are kept advised of significant developments at all times. The client is told if nothing is likely to happen for some weeks. The file is diaried for periodic review to prevent drift. Keeping the client abreast of significant developments is everything.

Correspondence is answered promptly. Save in times of unusual pressure, all telephone messages are returned on the day of receipt even if it means telephoning the client in the evening. Interviews can be arranged, in the appropriate circumstances, for the evening or at the weekend either at our chambers at 21a New Street or at the client's home or office premises.

Finally, and most important of all, a promise is never ever made to a client which cannot be fulfilled.

About Stoddart & Company

Peter Stoddart came to Salisbury in 1978 when he joined the firm of Elgar and Griffith post-qualification as an Assistant Solicitor. He became a salaried partner in 1980 and then an equity partner in 1982 continuing as such with Michael Adams until the end of June 2002 when the firm, then called Elgars, ceased to exist as a separate entity. During these years Peter Stoddart was H.M. Deputy Coroner for the County of Wiltshire from 1985 to 1988 and subsequently a Deputy District Judge from 1991 to 1998.

In 2003 Peter established Stoddart & Company at Courtyard Chambers, to make available his concept of a 'client based' Solicitor, by providing a level of personal service which should be synonymous with all forms of a professional service.

Common Areas of Law

Peter Stoddart has extensive experience in the legal aspects of taking civil cases to court (see Civil Litigation), buying, selling, owning and renting property (see Conveyancing), and divorce law (see Matrimonial Law).

There may be occasions where he will suggest the involvement of another lawyer - a barrister - that he knows to have had experience relevant to the Client's needs, but even in these instances all communication would still be between Peter Stoddart and the client, and he would retain full responsibility for the case. In this way the client is able to access the best help available, while still benefiting from Peter's personal approach.