Local Law “still in soft launch position”

Local Law, a planned law firm franchise, is “still in a soft launch position” and will not be able to sign up its first firm until the end of the year, its spokesman said today. Local Law aims to market solicitors through convenience stores.

Neil Bromage, media and PR consultant at Xpress Outsourcing Solutions in Blackpool, said earlier this month that Local Law would sign up its first law firm and appoint a “high profile individual” to its board by the end of this week.

However, Bromage said the soft launch was “received very, very well” and the planned franchise would talking to a “dozen or so” law firms, one in the south west.

“We’ve had very positive responses from at least two firms and we’re keen to proceed,” Bromage said.

“I’m not in a position to confirm who they are, but we will be able to confirm it by the end of the year.”

Bromage also admitted that the board behind the franchise had not yet been confirmed and a planned board meeting had not taken place.

“There will have to be another meeting, but I don’t think it will happen before Christmas,” he said.

Bromage said he expected that the board meeting would happen at the beginning of January.

As part of its strategy of marketing law firms through convenience stores, Local Law announced that it has been in negotiations for 12 months with Premier Stores, which has 2,700 stores in its network.

“We don’t need any formal agreement with Premier’s head office,” Bromage added. “They’re happy for us to approach firms directly.”

According to Local Law’s marketing material, firms will pay an annual subscription of £7,500 plus VAT to join Local Law, or £2,950 plus VAT if they join before April 1 next year.