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Too little too late?

11 March 2011 / Jon Robins
Issue: 7456 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services , Marketing
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The holy grail of the post-Legal Services Act world appears to be the creation of a solicitor-led legal brand instantly recognisable by the public...

Are law firms too late to build the solicitor brand? asks Jon Robins

The holy grail of the post-Legal Services Act world appears to be the creation of a solicitor-led legal brand instantly recognisable by the public and which will see off competition from all those household names—Co-Op, Halifax,
Which? et al—heading their way.

National branding

The speed at which firms appear to be signing up to the QualitySolicitors scheme—100 new branches opened last week—suggests a somewhat late-in-the-day conversion on the part of the profession to the belief that salvation does indeed lie in the power of collective marketing schemes. Either that or it suggests the beginnings of mass panic ahead of the 6 October start date for alternative business structures (ABSs).

Another attempt to create a national legal brand called Face 2 Face Solicitors was launched earlier this month. It claims to be “the first solicitors’ franchise”

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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