We were established by Stephen Switalski in 1993. Originally we were focused simply on Child Care Law and Criminal Law and operated from one office in Wakefield. We now have 12 office locations, over 250 staff and handle a wide range of specialist legal services.
What hasn't changed is our focus on first-class client care. We help even the most vulnerable clients to achieve positive outcomes and move forward.
On this site you can find out more about our services, our locations, our lawyers and keep up with the latest news from Switalskis.
Any decisions you take for your family can be difficult, so how can you make sure you get the right advice? Whether you’re getting divorced or separated, need help with childcare arrangements or just need to organise a will, we can help you with simple, Plain English advice.
No matter what you may be going through, we’ve probably helped someone with very similar circumstances before. We’ve helped clients with issues like child abduction, forced marriages and complex childcare. These matters can be sensitive and sometimes worrying. We believe that the way you feel at the end of the process is just as important as the quality of the advice you receive and will treat each unique case with care.
Our specialist divorce lawyers also have experience in complicated cases. Many of our Family Law solicitors belong to Resolution – an organisation committed to finding ways to divorce constructively and amicably for all parties.
All you need to do is contact us and we’ll listen to your circumstances and explain the best course of action to you. Your initial enquiry will cost you nothing and before you’re charged anything we’ll fully explain our fees and what you will get in return.
Whether you’re ready to speak now or simply want to arrange a time in the near future when you can speak more freely, get in touch and we can help you get the process started to receive your family law advice. Many clients find legal processes daunting at the outset, but the first phone call or meeting can do a lot to put you at ease.
If you are moving home, the legal processes you need to go through can seem complicated and time-consuming. Our solicitors can help you with every stage of the conveyancing process to make it as stress-free as possible, so you can focus on taking care of the rest of your move.
Residential Conveyancing can refer to the buying or selling of a house. This can be a complicated and unfamiliar process to you. Many people instruct a solicitor to help them navigate the process and receive professional and experienced advice. Our conveyancing team deliver a personal service and friendly service which suits your needs and will work with you closely to ensure that you get the highest level of client care. You can read our buying and selling processes below.
Our residential conveyancing solicitors are accredited under the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), so you can have confidence in our expertise and the service we deliver. The CQS standard requires firms to have a high standard of practice management and provide excellent client care. The CQS badge of quality is highly regarded by mortgage lenders too – many will not deal with solicitors who are not CQS accredited. Switalskis is on the approved panel of solicitors for all major lenders, which means that you can use our residential conveyancing solicitors no matter which mortgage lender you choose.
We can represent you in a variety of complex criminal cases. If you require a specialist to help you, our highly experienced and approachable Criminal Law Solicitors at Switalskis can provide you with the advice necessary to obtain the best result possible.
Our experts are here to ensure that your case is fought thoroughly and fairly. Being prosecuted for any criminal offence can be an intimidating and challenging time in life. Our solicitors understand this and will provide you with the support and guidance needed throughout. We will represent you and keep you updated with information at every stage, from an initial police station inquiry through to any trials and sentencing.
We can defend you in many areas of criminal law, including serious and violent crime, as well as fraud. Collectively the team have many years' experience and it includes a barrister and two Solicitor Advocates, meaning that we can represent you before courts at all levels.
This gives you peace of mind that you will receive consistent advice if you need to take your case to a higher court as our lawyers can represent clients at all levels including the Court of Appeal.
Our range of expertise includes:
Whether you need advice on wills, trusts and inheritance tax, or help with the administration of an estate after someone has passed away, you want a lawyer who will guide you through the process with sensitivity and in a clear, jargon-free way.
We aim to fully understand your circumstances and give you tailored advice so you can be confident that your needs and wishes will be taken care of, whatever the future brings.
When you contact our wills & probate team, they will arrange a consultation with you where they will discuss your circumstances and advise you on the best course of action. You can make an appointment at your local Switalskis office, or depending on your needs, our lawyers can offer home visits.
Our highly experienced team includes two full members of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP). This means that they have undergone a rigorous assessment of their skills and experience in advising clients on trusts and estates matters.
Combining in-depth knowledge with a friendly, professional approach, our wills team are relied upon to deal with sensitive legal issues around trusts and inheritance tax planning, probate and administration of estates, as well as handling contested probate and wills disputes.
Deciding to make a will or set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can sometimes feel like “tempting fate”, but preparing for the future needn’t be daunting. Our lawyers will guide you through the process step-by-step, ensuring that the final document accurately and clearly reflects your wishes.
By seeking advice from a specialist wills and trusts solicitor, nothing is left to chance, and if anything were to happen to you, your estate will be dealt with exactly as planned. Your legacy is important and getting expert assistance will bring peace of mind and reassurance that your loved ones will be looked after according to your wishes.
As we reach later life, it is important to think not just about protecting your property and assets, but to also think about what would happen if you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself.
Our wills & probate team understand the specific issues that can arise in cases involving elderly people, particularly those who lack mental capacity due to a condition such as dementia. They can advise on care fee planning and provide clear, practical advice on setting up LPAs. In the event of someone losing mental capacity without a will or LPA in place, they can also assist with deputyships and statutory wills.
Alongside offering practical legal advice in the event of loss of mental capacity, our wills & probate team have undergone training with the Alzheimer’s Society as part of the “Dementia Friends” initiative, to better understand issues around dementia and learn how to improve our services for clients with the condition.
Our team deals with the full range of wills and probate services, and can help with all aspects of probate and the administration of an estate after someone has died.
Offering a completely flexible service based on your needs and the complexity of the estate, they can provide basic services from completing the Grant of Probate application, to a fully comprehensive service including paying creditors and notifying beneficiaries. Whatever service you need, you will always be treated with the utmost compassion and understanding.
