Solicitors rethink personal injury marketing model

ACCIDENT LINK: firms to pay minimum 1,400 a month

Personal injury solicitors are to be offered an alternative to claims management companies (CMCs) with the launch this month of a marketing organisation promising to take the profit out of referrals.

The National Accident Link (NAL) - which has been set up by Bob Gordon Litigation Associates (BGLA) - will cost firms a minimum of 1,000 plus VAT each month and a 400 monthly charge for administration.

Firms that pay more than 1,000 each month will receive a reduced administration charge of 250.

NAL - a company limited by guarantee - will hold the marketing funds in a ring-fenced account, which will be operated on the basis of a solicitor's client account, Mr Gordon said.

He said he hopes subscribing firms that pay the minimum fee will obtain at least six cases a month.

Enquiries will be directed via a freephone number to a call centre administered by BGLA, and will be vetted before being issued to members on a cab-rank basis.

Firms paying more than the minimum fee will be allocated extra cases on a pro rata basis.

Mr Gordon said firms would have to use his own selection of insurance product - Mr Gordon formerly founded Greystoke Legal Services - and that member firms would be able to monitor advertising and administration closely through the NAL board.

The board and officers of NAL will be elected at a general meeting, which is set to take place on 29 January in Birmingham.

The Law Society-endorsed Accident Line and Merseyside-based TalkLegal also offer a non-CMC model referral and marketing service, while local groups of solicitors in Kent, the Wirral and elsewhere are starting to come together in marketing networks.

For details about NAL, e-mail bob@bobgordonlitigation.com

Jeremy Fleming