Market monitor

Alternative business structures could be decisive in helping smaller charities access legal advice with fixed fees, according to research which shows many lack understanding of their legal needs and cannot afford solicitors.

The first video-conferencing kiosk to give instant access to a solicitor will be launched in a shopping centre this month, Legal Futures can reveal. Instant Law UK, which plans 120 kiosks by the end of 2012, will add a home-user service next month.

The first business to announce its intention to invest in law firms has already spoken to more than 25 interested practices, it has revealed. However, In-Deed’s half-year results have revealed a very slow start to its online conveyancing business, with only 120 instructions in four months.

Legal expenses insurer DAS has taken the next step in its preparations to become an alternative business structure by acquiring online legal services company Everything Legal, which owns legal advice website Law on the Web. It will give DAS a strong direct route to market.

A regional firm of accountants is planning to become an alternative business structure (ABS). Becoming an ABS will allow Spofforths to improve the private client service currently provided by an in-house legal team and in time become a legal brand in its local market.

HighStreetLawyer.com (HSL) has added five new firms to its nascent national legal network after its successful pilot phase, Legal Futures can reveal. HSL is also relaunching its website today as part of the ambition of founder Gary Yantin to reach 100 branches by the end of 2012.

The first law firm launched in direct response to the government’s decision to ban referral fees in personal injury cases is set to go live. Acorn Law is pledging not to pay referral fees or charge them to other suppliers.

Profit margins among all but the elite of the top 100 law firms have dropped significantly over the past five years, new research has revealed, with the introduction of alternative business structures set to pressure them even more.

AIM-listed In-Deed has today become the first business to announce its explicit intention to invest in law firms. The company is looking for approaches from “successful and profitable provincial legal practices” to help make In-Deed a leading consumer legal brand.

Co-operative Legal Services has issued a major signal of intent by recruiting two leading solicitors to launch a family law service next year: Jenny Beck and Christina Blacklaws of TV Edwards, who both hold significant roles in the profession.

Top City law firm DLA Piper has invested in a prospective alternative business structure (ABS) that promises to introduce a “market-disrupting” new approach to providing businesses with legal advice, Legal Futures can reveal.

Clients will in future gravitate to trusted brands but independent lawyers can continue to play a major role in providing legal services if they take the necessary steps, leading figures from five law firm networks have predicted.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is in “serious discussions” with just 15 potential alternative business structures (ABSs), it has emerged. According to the SRA, six different types of organisation have so far shown official interest in becoming ABSs.

Lawyers who sign up as suppliers to US online legal documents business Rocket Lawyer – which is coming to the UK next year – will be expected to do a significant amount of work for nothing, founder Charley Moore has revealed.

QualitySolicitors has received a major cash injection that will accelerate the nationwide expansion of its brand, after private equity house Palamon Capital Partners took a majority stake. The plan is to have over 1,000 branches by the end of next year.