Co-op launches advertising campaign in legal services drive

It is hard to see how this is a level playing field - how many solicitors' firms own a national chain of supermarkets where tens of thousands of potential clients can be targeted at minimal cost?

Having been involved in a project looking at providing legal services through the retail industry one of the most important issues it looks at is the 'customer journey', that is to say, what is the experience of the customer from walking into the store, buying their tin of beans and walking back out again?

Reputation is everything so it will be interesting to see how each retailer copes with the increase in complaints it receives from clients trying to get out of paying their bill; the service provided can be 100% but canny customers know that if they complain they might just get away without paying. In light of the administrative burden a complaint can generate are the retailers ready for the extra costs and resources needed in this area?

Although the SRA has said it is to change its approach to the profession the current position is that many small misdemeanours lead to the door of the SDT leading to fines, reprimands and strike offs; will Tesco be willing to operate in an environment where findings/complaint league tables are published for all to see?

The majority of law firms work hard to protect their reputations but there will always be mistakes (especially when they can't get the right, or any, advice from Ethics) and staff that are 'loose cannons', so complaints/SRA action will not go away no matter how good you are!

I wonder how retailers will protect their reputations when the type of work they are likely to do is property, wills, and PI where complaint levels/claims are at their highest.

I would be interested to see how their conflict systems will work; the last thing they would need is one Tesco driver suing the other for hitting them, or a Tesco customer wanting to sue Tesco for a slip on water from a leaking freezer! There could be some interesting PR coming out in due course when a Sainbury's customer visits Tesco and sues for a slip; are we going to see retail rivals using this type of PR to entice customers away (with the client's consent of course!)?

Interesting times ahead!

There will be those that believe in it (Betas and Gammas), those who pretend to believe in it (some Alphas), those who will rebel against it (some Alphas) and those who sell out and don't care (some Alphas).

It is inevitable that ABSs will employ a large number of Gammas managed by a small number of Betas and overseen by an even smaller number of Alphas.

The drive for profit may even result in Deltas being employed as case handlers.

Tesco law could be good news for the Gammas and Deltas in terms of jobs available to them.

The Gammas and Deltas are also likley to benefit from cheaper legal services.

The fate of the hords of Alphas the law schools are churning out would seem to be a road to nowhere.

Legal services needed to be modernised and we can thank consumer groups for drawing to the governments attention deficiencies in the system. Nevertheless changing the legal "profession" from a Rumbole of the Bailey culture to Tesco law is an idea that might have been suggested at the mad hatters tea party. The legal profession is a risky profession and requires well educated people with good character at all levels from reception to senior partner. Historically secretaries and other staff in law firms and the bar have been better remunerated than other office workers, which recognised that high calibre individuals are needed in the law. Many legal secretaries who later became lawyers are probably not earning much more than they did as secretaries. The die is not cast, it is not too late to prevent the pending ABS disaster taking place. If the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats do get elected then either of them would be wise to, at the very least, delay the introduction of ABSs pending further representations from all interested parties. The HIPS fiasco is a good example of how keen idiots can cost the consumer a lot of money for nothing.

I always wondered what happened to the PG Tips chimpanzees.

What are you talking about? What sneaky deals?
How does the CoOp providing conveyancing services or litigation services make Solicitors more accountable?
Solicitors are scrutinised by the SRA, by the LSB and by the LSC (if they have alegal aid contract).
Will writers, beneficiary tracing companies and estate agents aren't regulated by anyone other than Trading Standards and the Police.
At least now Claims Management Companies are regulated by the MoJ.
It's a shame that commentators can't make their point without being rude.