English-Speaking Lawyers in Edinburgh

Legal Glossary

• Indefinite Leave to Remain
• Skilled Worker Visa
• Naturalisation
• Right to Work
• Stamp Duty Land Tax

Practice Areas

• Immigration Law
• Property Law
• Family Law

Scotland uses a different property law system from England and Wales. The Scottish system uses missives (formal letters between solicitors) and there is no separate exchange and completion. Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) replaces SDLT and is filed with Revenue Scotland. A non-resident additional supplement (2%) applies from 2023. You must instruct a Scottish solicitor for Edinburgh property transactions.

Edinburgh solicitors advise on the full range of UK Home Office visa categories. The city has large communities from EU countries, South Asia, and East Asia. International students at the University of Edinburgh (one of the largest in the UK) frequently need student visa, dependant, and graduate route advice. Many Edinburgh firms have Law Society of Scotland accreditation in immigration.

LBTT in Scotland applies on a progressive basis: 0% up to GBP 145,000, 2% from GBP 145,001-250,000, 5% from GBP 250,001-325,000, 10% from GBP 325,001-750,000, and 12% above GBP 750,000. A 6% Additional Dwelling Supplement applies to second homes and buy-to-let. Edinburgh property prices are among the highest in Scotland.

The EU Settlement Scheme closed to new applicants in June 2021, but late applications may still be accepted in exceptional circumstances. If you were an EU/EEA/Swiss national living in the UK before 31 December 2020 and did not apply, contact an Edinburgh immigration solicitor urgently to assess your options.

Yes. Edinburgh has large communities of French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, and other European nationals. Several law firms have multilingual staff or partner with professional interpreters. Avokatfinder shows verified language skills so you can find a solicitor who can advise you in your own language.