About the Firm

Culliton & Mescall Solicitors was established in the town of Athlone in the year 1998 by Donal Culliton and Frances Mescall. Prior to the formation of the partnership Mr. Culliton had practised for a number of years with a long established firm in Galway city, where he had acquired a wide experience of conveyancing and probate work, while Ms. Mescall had practised in Dublin in the areas of family law and employment law. Both partners were anxious to return to the midlands and, having identified a need in the town for a general practice offering a personal service to private clients, they opened the doors of the firm in September of that year in modest premises above a shop on Church Street.

The practice grew steadily during the years which followed and in 2004 the firm acquired and refurbished its present premises at 8 Clonbrook Street, a fine two storey building of some age which affords ample consultation space, a private waiting area and, importantly for many of our older clients, a ground floor room which is accessible without the use of stairs. The move allowed the firm to take on additional staff and to extend the range of services offered.

The firm today comprises three solicitors, a legal executive and an office manager, together with such additional support staff as the work of the practice requires from time to time. It remains, as it was intended from the outset to be, a general practice. We take the view that a firm of this size, in a town of this size, must be in a position to deal with the ordinary legal needs of the community which it serves, and we have resisted the temptation to narrow the practice to one or two specialities. A great many of our clients have dealt with us over a period of years and in relation to several different matters, and a great many more have come to us on the recommendation of a relative, a neighbour or a colleague. We regard this as the highest compliment which can be paid to a firm of solicitors.

Our approach

We believe that the client is entitled to know at the outset what is proposed to be done, how long it is likely to take and what it is likely to cost. At the commencement of every matter we furnish the client with a written statement setting out our charges or, where the charges cannot be ascertained at that stage, the basis upon which they will be calculated, in accordance with the requirements of section 68 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994. We do not consider that this is merely a statutory obligation to be discharged. It is, in our view, the beginning of a proper professional relationship.

We further believe that a client is entitled to speak to the solicitor who has charge of his or her file. It is not our practice to leave enquiries unanswered or to pass a client from one member of staff to another. Where the solicitor concerned is in court or otherwise engaged, a message will be taken and the call returned. Correspondence is acknowledged promptly and copies of all relevant documentation are furnished to the client as a matter of course.

The community

The partners and staff of the firm live in and around Athlone and take an active part in the life of the town. Over the years the firm has been pleased to assist a number of local sporting, cultural and charitable organisations with legal matters arising in connection with their affairs, and the partners have from time to time given talks on legal topics of general interest to community groups in the area. We are always glad to hear from local organisations in this regard.

Continuing professional development

The law does not stand still, and neither can a practitioner. All of the solicitors in the firm comply fully with the continuing professional development requirements laid down by the Law Society of Ireland and attend courses, seminars and conferences throughout the year in the areas in which they practise. The firm subscribes to the principal legal publications and maintains a working library at the office. Where a matter raises a question of unusual difficulty we do not hesitate to take the opinion of counsel.

Further information may be obtained by telephoning the office at (020) 912 0450 during office hours,
or by writing to the address shown on this page.