Two partners at Norfolk law firm Morgan Jones & Pett will launch a Web site this week that will enable solicitors to bid against each other for conveyancing, and wills and probate work.

The on-line service, ClicknMove, has been created by partners David Jones and David Pett as an alternative to e-conveyancing Web sites that do not give solicitors control of the client relationship.


Roll-out: Pett (left) and Jones

Under the service, prospective clients submit details of the property they wish to purchase or the will they want to create, free of charge. Solicitors who pay a monthly registration fee may then offer quotes in an open bidding process.

A notes facility will enable solicitors to give further information about their services, such as their experience or location. Firms may include a link to their own Web site on the ClicknMove site.


The service will initially be open to firms in East Anglia, before being rolled out across the country. So far 20 law firms have subscribed to it.


Mr Pett said: 'We decided to set this up because we are concerned about the increasing number of e-based conveyancing referral agencies that now exist. Companies are selling leads to solicitors, but are keeping control of the client and are forcing solicitors' fees down.


'With this Web site, we will introduce solicitors to people who use the Internet, and the solicitor can then contract with them and choose their fees, without a middle man.'


He added: 'We hope the process will not be price-driven. The notes facility means that solicitors can offer extras, for example an out-of-hours contact phone number.


'The bidding will initially be for conveyancing and wills work, but we plan to extend it to other legal services in the future.'