“Will businesses use the new style "Tesco Law" or will they stick with their trusted advisers?"

 Mark Iveson
 Solicitor
 Gateley LLP






With any controversial topic such as this, one must exercise caution and think clearly about what is being considered.
 
The above question is considering new players (supermarkets, banks) into the volume legal market (wills, conveyancing and everyday employment contracts). Looked at in this way, is Tesco Law a new phenomena, or merely different people doing what has been done before? For example national law firms based in Manchester. Nearly all have offered volume residential conveyancing (with different branding to the commercial element of the business) over the last decade. Some still offer a commoditised service for volume based work, done at a competitive price.
 
The reason for this is obvious; no demand for expensive specialised lawyers to carry simple, volume work. With training and strategic supervision, junior legal professionals offer quality and a competitive price. By employing such staff,  banks and supermarkets with highly established brands and advertising opportunities, are likely to capture a market share. Given they are larger than legal firms already in this market, it is open for them to benefit more from economies of scale, offering a more competitive price.
 
But, the above considers a distinct legal market. Conversely, complex commercial  work encounters novel, complex and domestic and overseas legislative issues. Clients demand specialised, experienced professionals to help navigate this arena quickly, saving time and expense. Trusted advisers offer bespoke, tailored advice, forming relationships and trust. With this type of service it is the people who are the 'product'. For the volume work, the 'process' is the product. Tesco Law offers 'process', but without specialising, it struggles to offer the 'people' . So long as reputable law firms keep hold of their personnel, skills sets will remain finite for which there is demand. Clients are unlikely to move for unrealistic offers of a specialised service at an extra special price.