An exciting new development (referred to in an article in the Guardian today) is the Law Bazaar, set up by solicitor Costas Andrea. Sickened by the huge sums made by claims companies simply for referring cases to solicitors (the people who do the actual work) he has set up a new web-site where clients can find a solicitor without an intermediary. This web-site is the Law Bazaar.
Here clients can post their problem to the site, discuss it with the lawyers registered, and then choose which one they want to use. It is completely free to clients, but the lawyers pay a modest fee (£50, or £150 for PI claims). There is also the option of the lawyer paying the client for the chance to take on their case (i.e. the money they would otherwise have paid to a claims company).
It is a good site for clients as they can shop around, see other clients recommendations, and talk (electronically) to law firms before making their choice. Both the lawyer and the client are anonymous until they agree to do business. The site is an international one so the client and the lawyer can be from anywhere in the world.
At the time of writing the site has only just launched so there are only a few law firms. However all firms should register as a matter of course – it costs nothing and could bring you in work, so why not?
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A pity the site is down at the moment because cheaper and more efficient sifting of clients helps everyone – specially in areas where money is tight like claimant employment law and divorce.