A nationwide scheme to offer discounted legal fees to armed forces personnel is being set up by a solicitor in the RAF, the Gazette has learned.

Armed Forces Legal Action (AFLA) is the brainchild of Wing Commander Allan Steele supported by Scottish solicitor Janet Hood.

Firms across the UK will be invited to offer a discount of one-third of fees to serving armed forces personnel, those who left the service within the previous two years, those with combat injuries, and recipients of the highest gallantry awards.

Steele said participating firms will get free publicity on AFLA’s website and in service publications, access to the AFLA logo to promote their involvement, and the opportunity to attract new clients and engage with the local community, particularly in areas with military establishments.

The scheme already has the support of the Law Society of Scotland.

Membership is open to all regulated firms and will be gained by firms entering a memorandum of agreement to offer the discount. There is no fixed term of commitment and firms can leave the scheme at any time.

Steele said the scheme would offer ‘real support for service personnel, the injured and the bereaved. It will shape the ethos of how we lawyers do business in this country and will hopefully inspire other professions to follow.’

A spokesman for the Law Society of England and Wales confirmed it is considering the scheme.