NOTICE - DRA Legal – formerly DRA Conveyancing Ltd
We wish to notify clients and visitors to this site that this firm no longer acts in legal work of any kind.
The firm’s principal, Derek Adkins, who remains a Solicitor (non-practising), has now retired from the legal industry. The business of DRA Legal is no longer a regulated law firm, but for administrative purposes, and post-closure matters, such as storage of documents, has relocated to 9A & 9B Knowl Road, Mirfield WF14 8DQ.
Any clients with current matters underway, or with important documents such as Wills and LPAs, or Deeds etc, stored with DRA, can rest assured that all documents are safe and remain on the premises at Mirfield (unless clients have removed them). See below for further information as to the premises at 138 Huddersfield Road.
Your legal documents - Wills / LPAs / Deeds
DRA Legal Ltd, at the point of closure did hold Will/LPA/Deeds belonging to current and former clients, within the strong room at the business’ former offices 138 Huddersfield Road Mirfield WF14 8AN. The company has in recent months written (by hard copy letter or by email) to all clients who had documents stored at DRA Legal. The letter explained as per the below, informing clients of their options as to the stored documents.
The background is that on 6 January 2025 DRA Legal Ltd (formerly trading as DRA Conveyancing Ltd, & as Derek R Adkins Licensed Conveyancer, and formerly of 47 Huddersfield Road, Mirfield) ceased to take on new legal work, with a view to eventually closing completely, on the retirement of Derek Adkins (which ultimately took place late July 2025.
Helios Legal Services Ltd - which trades as Bailey Smailes Solicitors - took up occupation of the property at 138 Huddersfield Road, Mirfield early in 2025.
Bailey Smailes Solicitors is a firm of Solicitors, (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)) who have served Kirklees and surrounding areas from their existing offices in Huddersfield and Holmfirth for almost 200 years. Bailey Smailes Solicitors are not a successor practice to DRA Legal Ltd, however the two firms have agreed that your documents can continue to be stored at 138 Huddersfield Road, providing of course that you consent for that to happen.
DRA Legal was a law firm formerly regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) and, as said, Bailey Smailes is (separately) regulated by the SRA. The professional rules of both the CLC and SRA require that for your important documents to continue to be stored by Bailey Smailes Solicitors, your informed consent is required.
We have written to affected clients of DRA Legal / DRA Conveyancing via email, or by letter. Clients of DRA who are content for Bailey Smailes Solicitors to store their documents will be asked to confirm their agreement. Other options will be offered.
All past and current clients of DRA can rest assured that DRA Legal is maintaining obligatory professional indemnity insurance of £2,000,000.00 per case. However, the business if DRA has now closed and therefore DRA can no longer store your documents in the long-term.
Bailey Smailes would store the documents upon the same terms as you had agreed with DRA. If you would prefer, instead, to collect your documents, whilst you decide your storage wishes. please telephone the office (01484 507993 or 01924 601043) so that arrangements can be made.