Marketing & PR

The increase in advertising legal services is having a negative effect on the justice system, according to a survey of 1,261 members of the public. There were similar findings in relation to the growth of ‘no win, no fee’ cases.

An innovative Hereford-based alternative business structure has set up a joint venture with a Welsh accountancy firm, joining nine other branded businesses in the Kidwell Group, ranging from a barristers’ chambers to a guest house.

A growing medical negligence marketing network has launched a £1m TV advertising campaign that aims to differentiate itself from other firms that “lack transparency when dealing with clients”. The first instalment of the campaign premiered during an ad break for Coronation Street.

The Law Society’s membership board has approved plans for a long-term campaign to boost the ‘solicitor brand’, which will include bigger businesses and in-house lawyers as buyers of legal services. It is due to be launched next year.

First he allowed solicitors to join, now the founder of RateMyBarrister is relaunching the website as legalbods.com, because “people who need legal advice often ask if anyone knows any good ‘legal bods'”. William Rees said his focus was on obtaining more detailed data from clients.

National Accident Helpline (NAH) and seven personal injury law firms, including Irwin Mitchell, are launching an Ethical Marketing Charter today. NAH will administer the scheme and handle complaints about possible breaches.

A leading QC is to take part in a pioneering free direct access video surgery later this month. Stephen Harvey QC will be discussing business risk and regulation via a new online video platform. The approach has also won the backing of the Bar Council.

Owners and managers of small to medium-sized businesses begin by searching the internet when looking for specialist legal help, a survey by Google has found. Individuals still preferred to rely on friends. Meanwhile, the use of mobile devices to search for law firms is “going bananas”.

The number of people receiving unsolicited personal injury marketing messages has changed little in the last three years, research by YouGov has found. Meanwhile, a claims management company has been rapped over the knuckles for not making clear in a television advert that calls from mobiles to its 0800 number would not be free.

The barrister and law firm with the top High Court win rates in England and Wales will be named later this month, Legal Futures has learned. The names will be included in a report from US analysts Premonition.