By Jonathan Rayner


Solicitors launched a furious attack on Tesco this week, describing content on the supermarket giant's new property website as 'outrageous' and 'misleading'.



The site - www.tescopropertymarket.com - sets out the perceived advantages of using a licensed conveyancer instead of a solicitor when buying or selling a home.



'A solicitor is a general legal practitioner, while a licensed conveyancer is a specialist who concentrates solely on dealing with property,' it says. 'Of course, if you know and trust a firm of solicitors in your local area, this is the obvious route for you. You may appreciate their local knowledge and personal service.



'But solicitors can be slow to respond and won't necessarily rate your property sale as their highest priority. Because licensed conveyancers do nothing but conveyancing, they have been able to streamline the process, which may give you a better service.'



The content was supplied by Lawpack, a legal self-help publisher that provides products for Tesco's online legal store.



Law Society chief executive Des Hudson told last week's council meeting: 'We are concerned about the disparaging comments and will be taking it up with Tesco and others to ensure compliance.'



Law Society Council member and conveyancing solicitor Denis Cameron said: 'The distinction between solicitors and licensed conveyancers is outrageous. Many solicitors' firms have entire departments devoted to conveyancing, so how can they be characterised as not being "specialist" or being "slow to respond"?'



Hilary Palmer, a property solicitor at London firm Winckworth Sherwood and a Gazette columnist, added: 'It's misleading to suggest that it is always in the client's interest to use someone who is not a "general legal practitioner", but specialises only in property. Many conveyancing transactions involve divorce, debt, trusts and other important issues, all of which require a breadth of legal knowledge and full legal training.'



But Tesco Property Market managing director Mark Davis said it had the content checked and is happy with it. He added: 'It's an interesting read and gives extra choice to consumers.'