The solicitor — Venice McDonald.
Independent. Derby-based. Focused on the practical: what your options actually are, what each one costs, and what happens next.
I started this practice for one reason: most people don't need a 200-lawyer firm. They need one good solicitor who actually picks up the phone.
I qualified as a solicitor and spent over a decade in high-street and regional practice across the East Midlands before going independent. That experience covered criminal defence, employment, family law, wills, powers of attorney and litigation — the same areas this practice focuses on today.
What clients tell me they value most is consistency: the same person on the other end of the line from first call to final order. No file hand-offs, no junior-paralegal-pretending-to-be-a-lawyer, no five-week silences.
How I work
- Clarity first. Before any quote or letter goes out, you'll get a plain-English summary of where you stand.
- Honest scope. I'd rather tell you to use mediation than bill you for litigation that won't help.
- Realistic plans. Timelines and budgets I can actually hit — not optimistic estimates.
- Replies. Voicemails returned the same day. Emails within a working day.
Regulation & insurance
I am a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales. Venice McDonald Legal Solutions is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under SRA ID 8011037. The SRA Standards and Regulations, including the SRA Principles and Code of Conduct, apply to every matter we take on.
If something goes wrong, please tell us — see our complaints procedure. We aim to fix things quickly; if we can't, the Legal Ombudsman is independent and free to use.
Languages & accessibility
English is our working language. Meetings can be held by phone, video or in person by arrangement. Reasonable adjustments are available on request — please tell us what you need when you book.
Need straight answers from a real solicitor?
Tell us briefly what's going on and we'll come back to you within a working day — usually sooner.