/* needalawyer.co.uk — 2026-09-17 */

:root{
  --navy:#0D1A2B; --navy-2:#13273F; --navy-3:#081220;
  --lime:#8BE04A; --lime-d:#6FC92E; --lime-soft:#EAF9DC;
  --paper:#F6F8FB; --white:#fff; --line:#E4E9F0; --ink:#0D1A2B; --muted:#5C6B7E;
  --wrap:1140px; --r:14px; --r-lg:20px;
  --sh:0 1px 2px rgba(13,26,43,.06), 0 8px 24px rgba(13,26,43,.06);
  --sh-lg:0 24px 60px rgba(8,18,32,.18);
}

*,*::before,*::after{box-sizing:border-box}
html{-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%}
body{margin:0;background:var(--white);color:var(--ink);
  font-family:'Plus Jakarta Sans',system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',sans-serif;
  font-size:17px;line-height:1.6;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased}
img,svg{max-width:100%;height:auto}
a{color:inherit}
h1,h2,h3,h4{margin:0 0 .5em;line-height:1.1;letter-spacing:-.02em;font-weight:800}
p{margin:0 0 1em}
.wrap{max-width:var(--wrap);margin:0 auto;padding:0 20px}
.skip{position:absolute;left:-9999px;top:0;background:var(--lime);color:var(--ink);padding:10px 16px;z-index:99;border-radius:0 0 8px 0}
.skip:focus{left:0}
:focus-visible{outline:3px solid var(--lime-d);outline-offset:2px;border-radius:4px}
.hand{font-family:'Caveat',cursive;font-weight:600;line-height:1.15;letter-spacing:0}
.u-line{display:block;height:6px;width:118px;margin-top:4px}
.u-line path{stroke:var(--lime);stroke-width:5;fill:none;stroke-linecap:round}

/* ---------- buttons ---------- */
.btn{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:.5em;border:0;cursor:pointer;text-decoration:none;
  font:inherit;font-weight:700;padding:13px 22px;border-radius:999px;transition:.16s ease;white-space:nowrap}
.btn.green{background:var(--lime);color:var(--navy)}
.btn.green:hover{background:var(--lime-d)}
.btn.dark{background:var(--navy);color:#fff}
.btn.dark:hover{background:var(--navy-2)}
.btn.ghost{background:transparent;color:var(--ink);border:1.5px solid var(--line)}
.btn.ghost:hover{border-color:var(--navy);background:var(--paper)}
.btn.lt{background:rgba(255,255,255,.1);color:#fff;border:1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,.28)}
.btn.lt:hover{background:rgba(255,255,255,.18)}
.btn.big{padding:16px 28px;font-size:1.05rem}
.btn[disabled]{opacity:.55;cursor:progress}
.ar{transition:transform .16s ease}
.btn:hover .ar{transform:translateX(3px)}

/* ---------- header ---------- */
.nav{position:sticky;top:0;z-index:50;background:#fff;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}
.nav .wrap{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:26px;min-height:72px}
.logo{text-decoration:none;display:block;line-height:1.05;flex:0 0 auto}
.logo b{font-size:1.42rem;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-.03em;display:block}
.logo b span{color:var(--lime-d)}
.logo b i{font-style:normal;font-size:.62em;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-.01em}
.logo small{display:block;font-size:.72rem;color:var(--muted);font-weight:500}
.nav-on-dark .logo b{color:#fff}
.nav-on-dark .logo b span{color:var(--lime)}
.nav-on-dark .logo small{color:rgba(255,255,255,.6)}
.nav nav{margin-left:auto}
.nav ul{display:flex;gap:26px;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}
.nav ul a{text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;font-size:.95rem;color:var(--ink);opacity:.85}
.nav ul a:hover{opacity:1;color:var(--lime-d)}
.nav .cta{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:14px}
.burger{display:none;margin-left:auto;background:none;border:1.5px solid var(--line);border-radius:10px;padding:9px 11px;cursor:pointer}
.burger span{display:block;width:20px;height:2px;background:var(--ink);margin:4px 0;border-radius:2px}

.nav-on-dark{position:absolute;left:0;right:0;background:transparent;border-bottom:0}
.nav-on-dark ul a{color:#fff}
.nav-on-dark ul a:hover{color:var(--lime)}
.nav-on-dark .burger{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.35)}
.nav-on-dark .burger span{background:#fff}
@media (max-width:860px){.nav-on-dark nav{background:var(--navy-2);border-bottom:0;border-radius:0 0 14px 14px}
  .nav-on-dark nav ul a{border-bottom-color:rgba(255,255,255,.14)}}

/* ---------- hero ---------- */
.hero{position:relative;background:var(--navy);color:#fff;overflow:hidden;isolation:isolate}
.hero-art{position:absolute;inset:0;z-index:-1}
.hero-art svg{position:absolute;right:0;bottom:0;height:100%;width:68%;opacity:.95}
.hero-art::after{content:'';position:absolute;inset:0;
  background:linear-gradient(100deg,var(--navy) 0 34%,rgba(13,26,43,.92) 46%,rgba(13,26,43,.35) 72%,rgba(13,26,43,.55) 100%)}
.hero .wrap{position:relative;padding-top:118px;padding-bottom:0}
.hero h1{font-size:clamp(2.5rem,6.4vw,4.35rem);margin-bottom:.35em;max-width:14ch}
.hero h1 em{font-style:normal;color:var(--lime);display:block}
.hero .lede{font-size:clamp(1.02rem,2vw,1.2rem);max-width:46ch;margin-bottom:.15em;font-weight:500}
.hero .lede.sm{color:rgba(255,255,255,.72);font-size:1rem;margin-bottom:1.6em}
.hero-note{position:absolute;right:26px;top:104px;text-align:center;color:#fff;font-size:1.9rem;max-width:300px;transform:rotate(-4deg)}
.hero-note .u-line{margin:2px auto 0}
.hero-quote{position:absolute;right:26px;bottom:160px;max-width:300px;text-align:right;font-size:1.6rem;line-height:1.15}
.hero-quote .u-line{margin-left:auto}

/* search */
.search{display:flex;background:#fff;border-radius:var(--r);box-shadow:var(--sh-lg);padding:8px;gap:8px;max-width:760px;align-items:center}
.search .f:first-child{flex:1.5 1 0}
.search .f{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;flex:1 1 50%;padding:6px 12px;min-width:0}
.search .f+.f{border-left:1px solid var(--line)}
.search .f svg{width:20px;height:20px;flex:0 0 auto;stroke:var(--muted);fill:none;stroke-width:1.8}
.search input{border:0;font:inherit;font-size:1rem;padding:8px 0;width:100%;min-width:0;background:none;color:var(--ink)}
.search input::placeholder{color:#93A1B2}
.search input:focus{outline:none}
.search .btn{flex:0 0 auto}
.chips{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:8px;align-items:center;margin:16px 0 0;font-size:.88rem}
.chips b{font-weight:600;color:rgba(255,255,255,.66);margin-right:2px}
.chip{background:transparent;border:1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,.28);color:#fff;border-radius:999px;
  padding:6px 14px;font:inherit;font-size:.86rem;font-weight:600;cursor:pointer}
.chip:hover{border-color:var(--lime);color:var(--lime)}

/* search result panel */
.result{max-width:760px;margin-top:14px;background:#fff;color:var(--ink);border-radius:var(--r);padding:20px 22px;box-shadow:var(--sh-lg)}
.result[hidden]{display:none}
.result .kick{font-size:.76rem;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--muted);font-weight:700;margin:0 0 6px}
.result h3{font-size:1.32rem;margin-bottom:.3em}
.result .rl{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:10px;margin:14px 0 0}
.result .rl a{display:flex;gap:12px;align-items:flex-start;text-decoration:none;background:var(--paper);
  border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:12px;padding:12px 14px;transition:.15s}
.result .rl a:hover{border-color:var(--navy);background:#fff}
.result .rl b{display:block;font-size:.98rem}
.result .rl span{color:var(--muted);font-size:.86rem;display:block}
.result .rl .ic{flex:0 0 auto;width:34px;height:34px;border-radius:9px;background:var(--lime-soft);display:grid;place-items:center}
.result .rl .ic svg{width:18px;height:18px;stroke:var(--navy);fill:none;stroke-width:1.9}
.result .close{position:absolute;right:10px;top:8px;background:none;border:0;font-size:1.3rem;cursor:pointer;color:var(--muted);line-height:1}
.result-wrap{position:relative}

/* trust strip */
.trust{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr);gap:26px;border-top:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.14);
  margin-top:40px;padding:22px 0 30px}
.trust div{display:flex;gap:12px;align-items:flex-start}
.trust svg{width:26px;height:26px;flex:0 0 auto;stroke:var(--lime);fill:none;stroke-width:1.8}
.trust b{display:block;font-size:.97rem}
.trust span{color:rgba(255,255,255,.68);font-size:.86rem}

/* ---------- sections ---------- */
.sec{padding:76px 0}
.sec.paper{background:var(--paper)}
.sec.dark{background:var(--navy);color:#fff}
.sec-head{display:flex;align-items:flex-end;gap:20px;margin-bottom:34px;flex-wrap:wrap}
.sec-head h2{font-size:clamp(1.8rem,3.6vw,2.5rem);margin:0}
.sec-head p{margin:.5em 0 0;color:var(--muted);max-width:60ch}
.sec.dark .sec-head p{color:rgba(255,255,255,.72)}
.sec-head .more{margin-left:auto;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;color:var(--ink);display:inline-flex;gap:.4em;align-items:center}
.sec-head .more:hover{color:var(--lime-d)}
.kicker{font-size:.76rem;letter-spacing:.16em;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:800;color:var(--lime-d);margin:0 0 10px}
.sec.dark .kicker{color:var(--lime)}

/* category cards */
.cats{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(6,1fr);gap:16px}
.cat{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--r);padding:20px 16px;text-decoration:none;
  display:block;transition:.16s ease;box-shadow:var(--sh)}
.cat:hover{transform:translateY(-3px);border-color:var(--navy);box-shadow:0 14px 30px rgba(13,26,43,.1)}
.cat .ic{width:40px;height:40px;display:grid;place-items:center;margin-bottom:14px}
.cat .ic svg{width:30px;height:30px;stroke:var(--navy);fill:none;stroke-width:1.7}
.cat b{display:block;font-size:1rem;margin-bottom:3px}
.cat span{color:var(--muted);font-size:.85rem;display:block;line-height:1.35}

/* preview / phone */
.phone-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1.05fr 1fr;gap:34px;align-items:center}
.phone-grid h2{font-size:clamp(1.9rem,3.6vw,2.6rem)}
.phone-grid .lede{color:rgba(255,255,255,.78)}
.phone{position:relative;margin:0 auto;width:290px;max-width:100%;background:#0A1422;border:9px solid #1B2C42;
  border-radius:38px;padding:14px 12px 18px;box-shadow:var(--sh-lg)}
.phone::before{content:'';position:absolute;left:50%;transform:translateX(-50%);top:6px;width:96px;height:6px;background:#22344C;border-radius:9px}
.phone .bar{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;font-size:.66rem;color:rgba(255,255,255,.55);padding:6px 6px 10px}
.phone .sbox{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;background:#fff;border-radius:10px;padding:9px 11px;color:#93A1B2;font-size:.8rem}
.phone .sbox svg{width:14px;height:14px;stroke:#93A1B2;fill:none;stroke-width:2}
.phone .tabs{display:flex;gap:6px;margin:10px 0}
.phone .tabs span{font-size:.66rem;border-radius:999px;padding:5px 10px;background:rgba(255,255,255,.1);color:rgba(255,255,255,.75)}
.phone .tabs span:first-child{background:var(--lime);color:var(--navy);font-weight:700}
.card-mini{display:flex;gap:10px;align-items:center;background:#fff;border-radius:12px;padding:10px;margin-bottom:8px}
.card-mini .av{width:40px;height:40px;border-radius:10px;background:var(--navy);display:grid;place-items:center;flex:0 0 auto}
.card-mini .av svg{width:22px;height:22px;stroke:var(--lime);fill:none;stroke-width:1.7}
.card-mini b{display:block;font-size:.83rem;line-height:1.2}
.card-mini i{font-style:normal;display:block;font-size:.72rem;color:var(--muted)}
.card-mini .meta{font-size:.68rem;color:var(--muted);display:flex;gap:6px;margin-top:3px;align-items:center}
.card-mini .tick{color:var(--lime-d);font-weight:800}
.card-mini .call{margin-left:auto;width:30px;height:30px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--lime-soft);display:grid;place-items:center;flex:0 0 auto}
.card-mini .call svg{width:15px;height:15px;stroke:var(--lime-d);fill:none;stroke-width:2}
.stamp{position:absolute;left:50%;transform:translate(-50%,0) rotate(-3deg);bottom:-16px;background:var(--lime);color:var(--navy);
  font-size:.72rem;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;padding:6px 14px;border-radius:999px;white-space:nowrap}
.plist{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:20px}
.plist li{display:flex;gap:13px;align-items:flex-start}
.plist .ic{width:40px;height:40px;border-radius:50%;background:rgba(139,224,74,.14);display:grid;place-items:center;flex:0 0 auto}
.plist .ic svg{width:20px;height:20px;stroke:var(--lime);fill:none;stroke-width:1.9}
.plist b{display:block}
.plist span{color:rgba(255,255,255,.7);font-size:.9rem}
.note-r{text-align:right;font-size:1.75rem;margin-top:26px}
.note-r .u-line{margin-left:auto}

/* standards / how */
.grid3{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:20px}
.panel{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--r);padding:24px;box-shadow:var(--sh)}
.panel h3{font-size:1.14rem}
.panel p{color:var(--muted);margin:0;font-size:.95rem}
.panel .n{font-family:'Caveat',cursive;font-size:2.4rem;color:var(--lime-d);line-height:1;display:block;margin-bottom:6px}
.steps{counter-reset:s;display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr);gap:20px}
.step{position:relative;padding-top:12px}
.step b{display:block;margin:10px 0 4px;font-size:1.05rem}
.step p{color:var(--muted);font-size:.93rem;margin:0}
.step .n{display:grid;place-items:center;width:38px;height:38px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--navy);color:var(--lime);font-weight:800}
.sec.paper .step .n{background:var(--navy)}

/* forms */
.form-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:24px;align-items:start}
.form-card{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--r-lg);padding:26px;box-shadow:var(--sh)}
.form-card h3{font-size:1.3rem;margin-bottom:.2em}
.form-card .sub{color:var(--muted);font-size:.93rem;margin-bottom:18px}
.fields{display:grid;gap:14px}
.fields.two{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}
label{display:block;font-weight:600;font-size:.88rem;margin-bottom:5px}
input[type=text],input[type=email],select,textarea{width:100%;font:inherit;font-size:.97rem;padding:11px 13px;
  border:1.5px solid var(--line);border-radius:10px;background:#fff;color:var(--ink)}
textarea{min-height:92px;resize:vertical}
input:focus,select:focus,textarea:focus{outline:none;border-color:var(--navy)}
.bad-field input,.bad-field select,.bad-field textarea{border-color:#D13C3C;background:#FFF7F7}
.err{color:#B62B2B;font-size:.82rem;margin:4px 0 0;display:block}
.checks{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:8px 14px}
.checks label{display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:flex-start;font-weight:500;font-size:.9rem;margin:0}
.checks input{margin-top:3px;accent-color:var(--lime-d)}
.hp{position:absolute;left:-9999px}
.note{font-size:.84rem;color:var(--muted);margin:14px 0 0}
.status{margin:14px 0 0;font-size:.92rem;font-weight:600}
.status.bad{color:#B62B2B}
.done{text-align:center;padding:18px 0}
.tickbig{width:54px;height:54px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--lime);color:var(--navy);display:grid;place-items:center;
  font-size:1.7rem;font-weight:800;margin:0 auto 14px}

/* ---------- guides ---------- */
.page-head{background:var(--navy);color:#fff;padding:54px 0 48px;position:relative;overflow:hidden}
.page-head h1{font-size:clamp(2rem,4.6vw,3.1rem);max-width:18ch}
.page-head .lede{color:rgba(255,255,255,.78);max-width:58ch;margin:0}
.page-head .crumb{font-size:.86rem;color:rgba(255,255,255,.6);margin-bottom:14px}
.page-head .crumb a{color:rgba(255,255,255,.8)}
.doc{padding:56px 0 70px}
.doc-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) 320px;gap:44px;align-items:start}
.doc h2{font-size:1.5rem;margin-top:1.6em}
.doc h2:first-child{margin-top:0}
.doc ol.big{counter-reset:b;list-style:none;padding:0;margin:0}
.doc ol.big li{counter-increment:b;position:relative;padding-left:52px;margin-bottom:20px}
.doc ol.big li::before{content:counter(b);position:absolute;left:0;top:-2px;width:36px;height:36px;border-radius:50%;
  background:var(--lime-soft);color:var(--navy);font-weight:800;display:grid;place-items:center;font-size:.95rem}
.callout{border-radius:var(--r);padding:18px 20px;margin:0 0 26px;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--paper)}
.callout.urgent{background:#FFF4F4;border-color:#F3C9C9}
.callout.time{background:var(--lime-soft);border-color:#CDEBB1}
.callout b{display:block;margin-bottom:3px}
.callout p{margin:0;font-size:.95rem}
.side{position:sticky;top:96px;display:grid;gap:16px}
.side .box{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--r);padding:20px;box-shadow:var(--sh)}
.side h3{font-size:1.05rem}
.side ul{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;display:grid;gap:12px}
.side ul a{font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;font-size:.95rem}
.side ul a:hover{color:var(--lime-d)}
.side ul span{display:block;color:var(--muted);font-size:.84rem;font-weight:400}
.side .box.dark{background:var(--navy);color:#fff;border-color:var(--navy)}
.side .box.dark p{color:rgba(255,255,255,.75);font-size:.9rem}
.disclaimer{background:var(--paper);border-top:1px solid var(--line);padding:22px 0;font-size:.87rem;color:var(--muted)}
.listmini{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;display:grid;gap:10px}
.listmini a{display:block;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;padding:10px 14px;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:10px;background:#fff}
.listmini a:hover{border-color:var(--navy)}
.prose h2{font-size:1.45rem}
.prose ul{padding-left:20px}
.prose li{margin-bottom:8px}

/* ---------- footer ---------- */
.foot{background:var(--navy);color:#fff;position:relative;overflow:hidden;padding:52px 0 26px}
.foot-sky{position:absolute;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;opacity:.28;width:100%}
.foot .wrap{position:relative}
.foot-top{display:flex;gap:30px;align-items:flex-start;flex-wrap:wrap;padding-bottom:30px}
.foot nav ul{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:8px 24px;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}
.foot nav a{text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;font-size:.94rem;color:rgba(255,255,255,.85)}
.foot nav a:hover{color:var(--lime)}
.foot-note{margin-left:auto;text-align:right;font-size:1.6rem;max-width:280px}
.foot-note .u-line{margin-left:auto}
.foot-bot{border-top:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.15);padding-top:20px;display:flex;gap:16px;flex-wrap:wrap;
  font-size:.84rem;color:rgba(255,255,255,.62)}
.foot-bot p{margin:0}
.foot-bot .mid{margin:0 auto}

/* ---------- responsive ---------- */
@media (max-width:1040px){
  .cats{grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr)}
  .hero-note,.hero-quote{display:none}
  .phone-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:30px}
  .phone-grid .plist{max-width:520px}
  .note-r{text-align:left}.note-r .u-line{margin-left:0}
  .doc-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:34px}
  .side{position:static}
}
@media (max-width:860px){
  .nav nav{position:absolute;left:0;right:0;top:100%;background:#fff;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);
    padding:10px 20px 18px;display:none;box-shadow:var(--sh)}
  .nav nav[data-open]{display:block}
  .nav ul{flex-direction:column;gap:0}
  .nav ul a{display:block;padding:12px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}
  .burger{display:block}
  .nav .cta{display:none}
  .trust{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:18px}
  .grid3,.steps,.form-grid,.fields.two,.checks{grid-template-columns:1fr}
  .search{flex-direction:column;align-items:stretch}
  .search .f+.f{border-left:0;border-top:1px solid var(--line)}
  .search .btn{justify-content:center;padding:14px}
  .sec{padding:56px 0}
  .hero .wrap{padding-top:96px}
  .hero-art svg{width:150%;opacity:.5}
}
@media (max-width:560px){
  .cats{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr)}
  body{font-size:16px}
  .foot-note{display:none}
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){*{transition:none!important;animation:none!important}}