It is heartening to see the new-look Law Society promoting the profession by spending £450,000 on the 'Your solicitor, qualified to answer' publicity campaign. But is this money well spent?


The fact is, solicitors are not geared up to give affordable legal advice and only do it as a pro bono activity, while clients offered 'free half-hours' see themselves as flies being offered hospitality by a spider.



What many firms do not realise is that, by offering a separate service of advice and support to do-it-yourself clients - distinct from the firm's 'acting for you' service - this can be affordable for the client and cost-effective for the solicitor, at rates below £100 per hour.



It is affordable not only because of the lower charge rate, but also because the solicitor is not spending chargeable time doing work clients could do for themselves.



It is cost-effective for the solicitor because there are no files to manage, and there is no ongoing client care, no back-office input and clients pay on the nail for every minute the solicitor spends on the case. It is even more cost-effective if the advice is supplemented by the receptionist selling legal forms, kits and books to DIY clients.



My firm has been offering this service for more than 10 years. If only we had £450,000 to promote it to the profession and to the public.



Peter Browne, solicitor, Bristol