Bringing Law To The People

[Barmaid]

I sense a growing discord about those who can get legal advice and those who cant. By and large the "free half hour" by solicitors is now non existent (this was operated thru the legal aid green form scheme). Some lawyers still offer this, but it mean Joe (or Josephine) Public has to get into a lawyer's office with an appointment during the day.

The internet is full of charlatans. But there are some v good sites out there - this one is particularly good.

How attractive do you think a "free legal surgery" would be to those who could get to their local pub/garden centre/coffee shop outside working hours? It would only offer an initial view, but might give those who are excluded from paying high legal fees a point in the right direction and then there are ways of funding for cases that have merit?

What do people think? Just an idea I am chucking around.

[Prudie]

I think it's a brilliant idea.Perhaps you should exclude certain 'needs' such as assault, violent crime for example. This type of service would be so helpful to those who've never had any brush with trouble before. It's those first timers who often turn to the internet in desperation and get swizzled.I know from experience!

[chrissa1]

I think it would be a great idea, Barmaid. Altruistic.

[EcclesCake]

There is certainly a desire for free legal advice and some are deserving and in need of it, how would you sort the wheat from the chaff?

What would your ROI be? Are you anticipating a case that has legs in every 30, 50, 100 consultations or is it a purely altruistic venture on your part?

I think it is a great idea overall but I wonder how you propose to prove your credentials when your shop window is the internet?

[marval]

I think it is a good idea, too many people have trouble accessing legal advice.

[EDDIE51]

^^ agree with that. If it was free you would be overrun with people with 'daft' problems the ones that really need it would never get near. I would say £25 a time. Refundable if the case could be financed somehow.

[lcg]

i agree with mamy.....pp guilty of stupid remarks and needs to be more respectful all round. i also didn't realise he was clairvoyant. is bm floating a business plan.....or offering services for 'free' as stated in her op?

[jim360]

Sounds like a good idea, but amateurs like Barmaid and NJ shouldn't run that sort of thing because they know nothing... ;)

Seriously, though, it's the sort of thing that I can see being extremely popular.

[Barmaid]

lol, thanks all for your responses.

It's partly altruism - I have the time and the skills to offer and there are people who cant afford advice - this is really sad. It's partly marketing because I believe (and I could be wrong) that most people think that you can only get legal advice thru a solicitor and that costs an arm and a leg and it is impossible to go direct to Counsel. I could happily just continue with what I have in terms of a practice, but I think there are a lot of people out there who would benefit from a "steer" in the right direction. And probably one in 30 or so might turn into a paid job.

I think there are some important points. I suppose if it proved popular I could be overrun - that isnt going to help anyone. No one wants a lawyer who doesnt have the time to look at their case properly. And realistically, I have to earn some money at some point!

I was thinking something along the lines of one afternoon and/or evening a fortnight and/or a Sat morning. (This deals with accessibility).

On the one hand I see the benefit of charging a nominal amount (and thus stopping the timewasters - sorting the wheat from the chaff). On the other hand, it then defeats the object of getting some "free" advice.

Lots to think about (and until I get my internet fixed, I have plenty of "thinking time"!). As always, you have all been v helpful. Thank you.

[tamborine]

Try an article in a local monthly mag, ie conveyancing, divorce, prosecutions etc. To introduce yourself?

[bednobs]

hello BM, i'm not sure how being a barrister works - but i'm sure that people in your normal job both want you, and listen to your advice. One other thing you would have to think about is how you would feel and the personal cost to you if local people badmouthed your advice, or if you had a "desktop" situation (ie where you were really trying to help someone and they just ignored you)

[themas]

The principle is very good. In some places there are already Law Centres which do this (mainly evening sessions, I believe). I think they work OK with a free service.

[mackfender]

I cannot think of any solicitor who honestly agree to a suggestion like this.. Good idea, but will never happen.

[Eve]

I've been part of an organised one, it was very busy, many non-legal queries but helping people who just didn't understand how certain things work, some more common sense helping out really and things like ringing debt collectors/ companies collecting debts to try and work out what was going to on and explain it so it was more understandable.

It is very limited as there isn't a lot you can get through, especially when there is a queue of people and it could be any kind of query coming through the door. Save very basic queries, there isn't much you can do to help in a short period (especially contentious issues and very emotive issues) and you are often asked to advise blind if people don't have documents etc... on them.

I'd maybe wonder on a liability standpoint, especially as it's a conversation more than a proper formal instruction and how it would be handled in the sense of restricting people to time and, say, one free session (of if more, the boundaries of that), say if people keep turning up wanting further advice on the same issue etc...

Maybe something to do somewhere which is not your immediate local area.

It might be much easier and less stressful to organise something via an existing organisation initially.

[Psybbo]

Please don't leave us, Barmaid, we need you, oh and love to ASBO xx