Solicitors in Durham: Conveyancing, Wills & Family Law

Most people only need a solicitor at a few key moments: buying a home, making a will, administering an estate, or working through a separation. As a county town and legal centre, Durham has a good choice of established firms, from long-standing city-centre practices to modern full-service firms on the edge of the centre. Here is a guide to some of the solicitors serving Durham City and how to choose the right one.

Whatever you are dealing with, use a firm regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Regulated solicitors carry professional indemnity insurance and are covered by a compensation scheme, which protects your money and gives you somewhere to turn if something goes wrong. All the firms below are SRA-regulated, and you can check any firm on the SRA's public register at sra.org.uk.

What to check before you instruct

For conveyancing and probate especially, ask for a written quote that is a full breakdown, the legal fee plus disbursements such as search fees, Land Registry charges and, where it applies, Stamp Duty. Ask who will actually handle your matter, and for property work look for the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation. For family matters, ask whether the firm is a member of Resolution, whose members work in a constructive, non-confrontational way.

EMG Solicitors

EMG Solicitors is a Durham-based law firm and certified B Corp at Abbeywoods Business Park, offering Court of Protection, family, conveyancing, wills and probate, education and mental health law services.

Good for Court of Protection and specialist work. Its strong Court of Protection and mental-health capability, alongside the everyday areas, makes it a notable choice for families dealing with capacity, deputyship and care matters, as well as standard conveyancing and wills.

Barbara Thubron Solicitor

Barbara Thubron Solicitor is a recognised sole practice on New Elvet in the centre of Durham, covering wills, trusts and tax planning, probate, residential conveyancing and family matters.

Good for a personal city-centre service. As a sole practice where you deal directly with the solicitor throughout, it suits people who value continuity and a single, consistent point of contact.

Cooper Stott Solicitors

Cooper Stott Solicitors is a firm at Aykley Vale Chambers, just north-west of the centre, holding the Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation and covering family law, property and conveyancing, and wills, probate and lasting powers of attorney.

Good for conveyancing. With CQS accreditation for property work alongside a strong family and private-client offer, it is a well-rounded choice for the most common reasons people need a solicitor.

Lever Law Solicitors

Lever Law Solicitors is a firm at Carter House on Pelaw Leazes Lane in central Durham, covering residential conveyancing, wills and probate, powers of attorney and services for elderly clients, alongside commercial and a niche in sports, media and entertainment law.

Good for a broad, modern practice. Its mix of everyday private-client work and more specialist areas makes it a flexible option close to the city centre.

How to choose the right firm

• Confirm they are SRA-regulated and check for accreditations such as the Conveyancing Quality Scheme for property or Resolution membership for family work.
• Get a written quote up front with a full breakdown of fees and disbursements, and check whether it is fixed or an estimate.
• Ask who will do the work and how experienced they are in your particular type of matter.
• Check whether Legal Aid applies for certain family and other cases, and ask early if you think you might qualify.

Once you have found a firm you trust, keep their details to hand. The same solicitor who handles your house purchase today is often the one you will turn to for a will or a power of attorney later.

Looking for a firm we have missed? Get in touch.