Choosing the best solicitor for you can be like finding a needle in a haystack.

To make it easier, it is best to arm yourself with as much information as possible – you can find a range of information on this site from firm profiles to ratings. The Law Society also runs an accreditation scheme for many specialist areas of practice, which you can also search for on its website.

It also makes sense to ask prospective solicitors for their hourly rates and estimates of how much your work is likely to cost and depending on the type of work involved, it may be possible to negotiate fixed or capped fees. Solicitors are required to supply you with a client care letter, which sets out their terms and conditions, to which you must agree before they start work.

But the job isn't finished when you have decided which solicitor you will use. Although many solicitors will provide the first meeting free, after that you are usually “on the clock”, so keep your conversations succinct and focused or your meeting will turn into the most expensive conversation about the weather you have ever had.

It makes sense to draw up a list of questions you want to ask before your meetings and gather together and organise all the relevant paperwork in advance. Some of the main points to may want to cover with your solicitor are timescales, costs (including other costs such as instructing barristers or search fees), prospects of a successful conclusion and what you are expected to do.

Try to answer your solicitor's questions as clearly and accurately as you can. Misunderstandings can cost money, so if your solicitor says something that that you don't understand, do not be afraid to ask for clarification.

After the meeting, ask your solicitor to send you a letter summarising the advice you've been given and read it carefully when it arrives. This will demonstrate whether the solicitor has fully understood your case. If you are not happy that this is the case, now is the time to clarify the situation – or find another solicitor if your first choice does not inspire confidence.

Checklist: What you need to ask

Costs: How much do you charge per hour? What is your overall bill likely to come to? What other expenses are there? If litigation, could I be responsible for the other side's costs?

Timescale: How long will my matter take to conclude?

Prospects of success: If litigation, what are the prospects for success? Would mediation or negotiating directly with the other party be a better course of action?