UK LAW FIRMS FIGHT BACK

A UK Solicitor firms have begun the fight-back against ‘call-centre law’. Recent changes to the law permit, for the first time, non-legal bodies to provide legal services, which in essence will allow non-lawyers to own and operate legal services providers.  It is a change that has disturbed London based barrister Craig Holt:- “My very real concern is that the public are at grave risk here. People have a natural inclination to use services provided by names that are familiar to them even if that may not provide the best source of help for them. The client/solicitor relationship is crucial, often it is only after getting to know a client that the solicitor understands precisely what they wish to achieve, and what assistance they need. The Legal Services Act will lead to less understanding between parties and inevitably result in the public using legal representatives hundreds of miles away, at best with no understanding of local issues and often with expertise in areas irrelevant to their needs.”  The issue prompted Holt to create QualitySolicitors.com. The UK’s first national legal brand, which has brought together one hundred of the best solicitor firms nationwide to form a founder membership promoting the use of real solicitor firms over ‘call-centre law’. Users of the innovative, free, service will be matched to the best solicitor for their particular issue by a team of legally trained case handlers. It is a distinct move away from the claims management companies, whose advertising dominate daytime television and who ‘sell on’ cases to the highest bidder, and will enable the public to source/access specialist law firms appropriate to their needs.  Craig Holt continues:- “For too long members of the public have had to face a lottery when choosing a solicitor. QualitySolicitors.com is about providing that ‘brand’ familiarity but associating it with high quality, value for money, real solicitor firms. Legal services provided by supermarkets, banks or building societies, out of mass call centres can rarely, if ever, be the right option for consumers.”

Open for business - pupil's set up shop at Marshside

TILLS, at Marshside Primary School, Southport, are ringing to the tune of enterprising pupils running their own shop thanks to a donation from Britannia Building Society's charitable Foundation.

The £2,400 donation provides a unique opportunity for the school's children aged 5 to 11, to be able to 'set up shop' and not only run, but also manage their own business.  Tony McCoy, headteacher at Marshside Primary School, said: "This is an exciting project that will also involve the wider school community - we are delighted with the support from Britannia. Selling fresh fruit and drinks, vegetables from the school garden and school equipment such as school-ties and book-bags, the shop will give pupils experience of money handling, pricing and team work. The school is committed to delivering diverse learning experiences and the new shop - managed and run by the children - will provide a stimulating and enjoyable learning environment that develops numeracy, financial literacy and real-life skills."

Lorna Bulloch, manager of Britannia's Southport branch, added; "Britannia's charitable Foundation is one way in which the Society gives back to local communities. The school shop will promote an interest and enthusiasm in numeracy and financial literacy for many years to come - we are delighted to be able to support the school in this way."

Organisations wishing to find out more about the Britannia Foundation should call in to any of Britannia's 245 branches or click britannia.co.uk

Members of the community wanting further information about Marshside Primary School should visit:- marshsideprimary.org.