Consumers are being squeezed in a way many have never experienced, others had forgotten. Prices are escalating, salaries frozen or lost, and forecasts are as drab as the autumn weather. Any prospect of saving money is being sought after, the “bargain hunt” is on, money is undoubtedly tight.

The Public, when seeing a headline indicating Tesco is embarking on Legal Services might well imagine this is another great opportunity to save a few quid and indeed earn loyalty points, what could be better?.

“BE CAREFUL!” dear consumer.

I have run legal offices in Leeds and Harrogate for over 30years. I’m managing seven now. I started a Free Legal Advice Clinic well over 20 years ago and have dedicated well in excess of £1m worth of free advice time to the public. With all modesty, I know what I’m talking about.

Hear is my challenge. I cannot see how the public are going to benefit   by a voracious International supermarket chain offering this service. Why? because law is specialised. Gone are the days when one man bands “did all”. A firm of solicitors needs specialists to cover the work they offer, as will any enterprise offering legal services.

The press reported recently the mayhem left behind when unqualified cheap will making firms offered apparent value. Cheap until the work was examined, then terribly costly. I have to assume therefore your local Tesco Branch or the bigger stores will have to employ a team of lawyers covering any aspect of work. Even if Tesco stores were limited to say offer property / conveyancing, wills and probate services, it cannot be economically viable for the specialists to be in situ. Salaries for qualified and support staff are not cheap. Professional indemnity insurance and such hidden major overheads are massive. If the work ends up being funnelled to regional bases their consumers can be assured of the “offer” of Tesco finance and Tesco insurance. A nice little earner for Tesco.

My advice would be not to rely on convenience, but continue comparing the price and value of all legal services you buy, whether bundled or not. As they say, “Compare the Market”

Might the work be farmed out to selected firms ?

It could, but BE CAREFUL CONSUMER. Such block referrals happened in the boom years when agents selected their partners, shared fees and churned the work through lawyers computer programmes. The public rarely, if ever saw “their” lawyers and paid MORE for the “new service”, as two bodies shared one large fee.

Contrary to popular belief, the high street practises, treated with scorn, classed as “dinosaurs” offer a darn sight more than a transaction.  The service you receive will without doubt be more personal - you will know who you’re dealing with. This is critical because the decisions you make could relate to your biggest life time purchase, your estate on your death. The personal link is necessary. My clients tell me they want it.

You might also be surprised to find that the fees are invariably cheaper with the dinosaurs – so my advice would be always to compare the fees against those who conveniently gift wrap their services: estate agents and soon to be supermarkets. Then tell me where the bargain lies.

The high street is not encompassing Tesco’s profit – as rest assured Tesco will not be providing this service through altruism. I wonder if they will run a Free advice centre every week, come rain come shine?

Oops sorry…I agree on one point, the HIGH STREET LAWYER cannot offer loyalty points, but can only offer loyalty, a face you know, a face you trust, and value.

You choose, dear consumer.

It’s free and easy to avoid sad legacyFREE wills are being offered by a Leeds law firm as part of a national charity fund-raising drive.“Will Aid” operates through volunteer law firms who draw up wills, or alter existing ones, without charge.  People are asked to make a donation in return, or leave something to charity in the will which they have drawn up.Since its launch in 1988, Will Aid, has raised almost £7m in donations and much more in legacies.Monies raised are split between nine participating charties, including the British Red Cross, Help the Aged and the NSPCC.Will Aid will be in operation throughout November.Law firm Grahame Stowe Bateson, which has seven offices in Leeds and Harrogate, has supported the campaign for the last 10 years.Senior Partner Grahame Stowe said:  “Making a will is a relatively simple process and can save a great deal of anguish, yet an incredible number of people have nothing in place.“Will Aid is a terrific opportunity for members of the public to put their affairs in order and support nine very good causes at the same time.”