Tesco is currently launching its own range of legal services, after Lord Falconer’s call for an increase in cheaper and more accessible legal advice.
In addition to budget will writing and storage services (already offered elsewhere) the Tesco Legal site will also offer a DIY divorce kit for around eight pounds, which would allow the parties involved to put an end to a marriage without the need for a solicitor or traditional legal advice.
The 70 billion pounds a year chain, has also expressed plans to introduce DIY letting agreements and ltd company packs-containing all the appropriate forms required when setting up a limited company. There will also be a detailed Question & Answer service online and sections of the site explaining what all the legal terms mean, both of which will help members of the public make sense of the terminology, forms and processes.
Experts in the field have said that Tesco Legal Store is set to be a frontrunner, but that many other companies will follow suit, offering an even wider range of cut price or self service legal services, particularly after the reform of the ownership rules which previously governed law firms.
In July 2009 following the release of a consultation document , lord Falconer hailed the move, dubbed ‘Tesco law’, as a visionary start to many more high street companies offering a new type of legal advice to the public. However the leader of the consultation, David Clementi, said the term ‘Tesco law’ was little more than a media coo and urged experts and the public to not be distracted by the term and deal with the real matter.
Despite Clementi’s misgivings, it does seem that the term is catching on and that there will be an increase in the number of legal services offered by high street chains and other non professionals, possibly leading to a decline in the numbers seeking professional legal advice, with some commentators expressing concern over the quality of this type of advice and urging those in need of legal representation to seek it from recommended solicitors practices.
However, The Law Society, seem unconcerned about their members seeing a drop in clients, issuing a statement saying they see Tesco Legal as an “innovative addition to the market”.
Cheshire solicitors, Oneill Morgan have expertise in a wide range of legal areas, so if you need advice then visit www.oneill-morgan.co.uk to find out more about wills and probate and other areas of law.