Choosing a solicitor

[Jesmar]

I plan to use a friend as executor of my will possibly together with a solicitor.
I have been recommended a local solicitor by another solicitor I trust who is retiring soon, but my friend lives 100 miles away from me and I wondered whether it would be better for his sake to make him sole executor and let him decide whether to use the solicitor recommended to me or for him to use a solicitor he is familiar with himself.
Would it make any practical difference?

[PallasAthena]

As far as having a solicitor as a named executor is concerned I wouldn't do it if your Estate is straightforward. They just cost money and slow evrything down. And most of the hours they charge you for will be just for office staff doing basic admin work that requires no legal expertise.

If your executor(s) need a solicitor they can appoint one to act for them on specific matters as and when the need arises, I'd leave it with the executor(s) to decide what solicitor to use when that arises. If they have to sell a property, for example, they might use a different solicitor to do conveyancing from one if a tricky legal point arose regarding the Will.