April 25th, 2010Tesco Legal Services
Tesco is currently finalising the launch of its own legal services range, after calls from Lord Falconer’s for an improvement in the accessibility and affordability of legal help.
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 well known chain is also looking at the possibility of introducing DIY letting agreements and bundles including any form required in order to start a limited company. These packs will be supplemented with a glossary of terms and an internet based Q&A service, to help users with the often complex legalise.
Experts have suggested that Tesco Legal Store is the start of things to come and that going forward other high street chains will open their own legal services sections, with some implying there will be an even wider range of services available in this manner, especially after a reform in the rules previously governing law firms.
Once the July 2009 consultation document was, Lord Falconer suggested that the so called ‘Tesco law’ would be an exemplary example of the way legal advice can be offered to the public at a lower cost, although at the time Sir David Clementi, who lead the consultation, brushed off the idea and said he felt the term ‘Tesco law’ a distraction and a media folly.
Whatever term you want to give it, the prospect of DIY or budget law is certainly a likely one, and if it is rolled out across more companies then the likelihood will be that fewer people will seek legal advice via the traditional channels, with many in the field raising concerns about the quality of this type of legality and urging the public to continue using reputable solicitors practices.
Despite this though, The Law Society, whose members are likely to be most affected by the reform, have said that they see Tesco’s legal arm as an “innovative addition to the market”, suggesting that they see room for both types of legal advice in 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.