More than 60% of the public cannot name a single law firm, according to research seen by the Gazette this week, even though 78% have used a solicitor before.

However, more than half of those questioned said they would be happy to buy legal services from a recognised non-legal brand such as a financial services company.

A YouGov survey of more than 2,000 consumers conducted for national law firm network the Legal Alliance found that 55% would buy legal services through existing non-legal brands.

However, of those who had used a solicitor before, only 27% said they would go back to the same qualified individual for a future need.

Solicitors were poor at remarketing themselves to existing clients, the research showed. More than two-thirds of clients who had used a lawyer had never heard from them again, while 14% had been contacted once by the firm.

Consumers showed a preference for local suppliers rather than call centres. Some 88% said it was important to be able to access services locally, while 87% said they were less likely to use a call centre-based service.

Of those consumers who were able to name one or more law firms, most named large City or corporate firms. City and national firm Eversheds was the best-known firm, named by 2% of respondents. Other firms named by 1% of respondents included national firms Irwin Mitchell and Thompsons; Manchester firm InjuryLawyers4U; Newcastle firm Dickinson Dees; and magic circle firms Clifford Chance, Linklaters, Allen & Overy, Slaughter and May, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Norrie Macdonald, business development director at the Legal Alliance, a network of independent medium-sized firms, said: ‘The brands will enter the market sooner rather than later, and every brand owner we have spoken to is happy to meet the needs of consumers through arrangements that deliver local services, with most aiming to launch in the first half of 2010.’

The Legal Alliance works with brands to provide a ‘white label’ law service through its network of firms.