Divorce a key issue

National on-line divorce information site divorceuk.com has proved a massive hit with users, many of whom are looking for a lawyer, its developers said last week.

Since the launch of the site in June (see [2000] Gazette, 22 June, 20), it has received more than 50,000 hits from about 10,000 people considering divorce or separation.

Of those, around 40% are trying to locate a solicitor.

Scottish solicitor Donald Wright, who developed the site, said his firm Wright & Co was already gaining an average of two clients a month through its own Web site link to divorceuk.com.

'Clients coming to the firm through the site tend to be non-legally aided and from a business point of view it is an inexpensive way to acquire new work at a cost which is lower than advertising in Yellow Pages,' Mr Wright added.

Solicitors paying a minium fee of 40 can advertise their firm's name and profile on-line and receive requests for advice from users in their geographical area.

Family solicitor Stephanie Owen of Surrey-based Morrisons - one of 30 firms now linked to the site - said with several 'high-quality' client referrals, the firm's link had also enhanced its marketing tools.

The site is also now directly linked to two counselling services, Relate and Couple Counselling.

Sue Allen