We are encouraged at all times to ask ourselves: 'Who is my client?'

I have just received yet another call from a law firm I have never heard of, at the other end of the country, which says it is acting for my client in a re-mortgage.


My client's husband died recently. The property was held as tenants in common in equal shares. I submitted an application for a grant of letters of administration on 3 June and am awaiting the grant.


The solicitors had the temerity to suggest that it would be 'more straightforward' if they applied for the grant and dealt with the transfer of the property into her sole name - a matter that my client had already instructed me to deal with.


I, in turn, suggested that in fact we may have been far better placed to deal with the re-mortgage, given that we had already been instructed and I have acted for my client for many years.



Presumably, there are vast numbers of confused clients who are asking themselves: 'Who is my solicitor?'


David Hallam, Hethertons, Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire