A Newspaper, Some stamps And A Divorce Please

Legal superbrand, QualitySolicitors, to offer access to legal services in WHSmith in East Yorkshire.

1st August, 2011 – Shoppers visiting WHSmith in Hull and Beverley can now access legal services when buying their newspapers, books and stationery as part of a ground-breaking new partnership with legal superbrand, QualitySolicitors.

This will see the UK’s favourite newsagent begin to launch “Legal Access Points” from today in more than one hundred stores on the high street.

The legal Access Points in the Whitefriargate, Prospect Centre and Beverley branches of WHSmith is partnered with local legal firm QualitySolicitors Lockings. It will be staffed by trained Customer Service Executives who will be able to offer quotes for conveyancing, book appointments for legal advice and even sell vouchers for wills.

The staff will use programmed iPad ‘apps’ to book appointments with the local firm to ensure seamless customer service between the store and the office.

The move by QualitySolicitors heralds the arrival of the Legal Services Act, dubbed “Tesco Law”. From October 2011, this will mean that non-legal organisations such as banks and supermarkets will be able to offer legal services, posing a significant threat to the future existence of traditional ‘high street’ law firms.

QualitySolicitors Chief Executive, Craig Holt, said,

“The WHSmith partnership with QualitySolicitors provides everything the Legal Services Act hopes to achieve without the perceived negatives – accessible, consumer-friendly legal services but with the actual legal work being referred to leading local law firms with specialist lawyers as opposed to unqualified staff in a remote call centre.”

Lee Jenks WHSmith, duty manager in Beverley said;

“We’re confident that a large number of our customers will be keen to take advantage of the new Legal Access Point in our stores. There is a clear demand among consumers for cost-effective and accessible legal services and we’re delighted to be working with QualitySolicitors to meet this demand.”

Richard Allen, Managing Partner is delighted that the tie-in goes live on Monday, he says:

“As part of our drive towards better customer service in the legal market, QualitySolicitors firms will be open six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, and will offer a free first consultation as well as a wide range of services for a fixed fee, which have traditionally been charged out for by the hour.”

For further information about QualitySolicitors Lockings, please call 01482 300200/300500 or visit www.qualitysolicitors.com/lockings