Levins Solicitors secure Law Society's new quality mark

We are pleased to announce that we have secured membership to the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme - the mark of excellence for the home buying process. Levins Solicitors underwent rigorous assessment by the Law Society in order to secure CQS status, which marks the firm out as meeting high standards in the residential conveyancing process. Law Society President John Wotton said that the Law Society introduced CQS to promote high standards in the home buying process: “CQS improves efficiency with common, consistent standards and service levels and enables consumers to recognise practices that provide a quality residential conveyancing service. Buying a home is one of the largest purchases anyone will make in their lifetime, so it is essential that it is Read More

Over £2,000 raised for charity

Levins Solicitors have raised around £2,095 for nine popular charities by writing wills for local people under the Will Aid scheme. All of the money goes straight to Will Aid and is shared by the participating charities: ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, Sightsavers, SCIAF and Trocaire. Levins Solicitors are proud to support Will Aid and we would like to publicly thank all those will-makers who donated so Read More

Private parking charges -- Part 1

There's a lot of advice out there on the web about the charges levied by private parking companies ('PPCs') -- some of it good; some of it not so good. In Part 1 of this short series, Jon Heath explores some of the legal issues involved. What right do PPCs have to charge? Usually the owner of the car park enters into an agreement with the PPC whereby the PPC is permitted to administer the car park. The PPC then puts up notices in the car park which create a type of contractual offer. So long as the notices are properly visible and legible, you are deemed to accept the offer when you drive in and park and a contract is formed. Read More

Mediation Service at Levins

Conflict affects people's lives in many ways, whether it is a dispute between neighbours, within the family or at work, conflict damages our health, our relationships and our lifestyles.    More and more people are now being encouraged to settle their dispute before court or other proceedings are contemplated. Mediation is an alternative way of resolving disputes which allows the people involved in the conflict to work together to find a solution that they can all live with and may be cost effective.  Mediation can be less stressful, less time consuming, and quicker. Mediation is a way of turning conflict into something positive. Here at Levins we aim to help people find their own solutions through mediation to the problems they are experiencing and to take control Read More

Levins Solicitors sponsor Woolton DK Ladies FC

As part of our community engagement programme, we are proud to announce that this season we are sponsoring Woolton DK Ladies FC. The team currently lie second in the Liverpool County FA Girls league and have already racked up 7 wins in 9 games. The team are pictured below with Levins partner Dave Woods and their manager George Marsh. We wish them every success in their forthcoming Read More

Should you slow down to allow someone to overtake?

This was the question for the court in Pykett v Clement & Anor [2011] EWHC 2925 (QB). Ms Clement collided head-on with a van travelling in the opposite direction after having made several unsuccessful attempts to overtake Mr Pykett. It was accepted that Ms Clement bore most of the blame for the accident, but Ms Clement alleged that Mr Pykett was partly at fault for not having allowed her to pass. The relevant section of the Highway Code reads as follows:  "If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably whilst someone is Read More