Co-op family law service launches in London

The Co-op is this morning launching its much anticipated family law service, two months later than initially planned.

The service will include a national, telephone-based service and, as promised, fixed fees, but face-to-face advice will be limited to one office in London for the time being.

Christina Blacklaws (pictured) will head the service, based in Paddington, joined by 22 lawyers - solicitors and legal executives - and three support staff.

When the move was announced by Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) in November last year, Blacklaws said "large numbers of solicitors" would be recruited.

CLS plans to expand the service from London to five regional hubs in England and Wales.

It already has a legal aid contract, and in May this year was handling 30-40 publicly-funded cases.

Martyn Wates, deputy chief executive of the Co-op, said at the time that family clients would earn points for using the service, which could be spent on a range of products and service, including groceries. He also promised pre-nups at “cheap prices”.

A family law ‘customer charter’ sets out the standards that Co-op clients can expect. The text is as follows:

‘We promise:

• No nasty surprises. We will provide a detailed, itemised quote before we start work. We provide a fixed fee service as standard, which won’t change later on.

• To help you reach the best possible outcome for you and your family, with the least possible distress for everyone.

• To treat you as an individual – we do not believe in a one size fits all approach and will work with you to find the solution which is right for you.

• No jargon. We will take time to understand your needs and provide clear explanations so you completely understand what’s going on every step of the way.

• To handle your case with sensitivity – our lawyers are experts in family law and have specialist training to ensure they can help you through whatever challenges you are facing.’

Wates added: “As a trusted, ethical and approachable provider offering real value for money we intend to bring a refreshingly different approach to family law.

“At a time of major changes in legal aid, we believe it’s vital to make it as easy as possible for people to gain access to justice. We are doing this by providing an innovative approach that will appeal to those who are currently reluctant to access family law services.

“This move is a natural extension to the range of professional services we currently provide within The Co-operative which includes banking, pharmacy and funeral care.”