Property service group launches conveyancing referral network

Property service group Move With Us is launching a solicitor referral service for solicitors, aiming to enrol 100 firms within a year.

Law Firm Network is one of a number of brokered property services offered by the group, ranging from sales and lettings to energy performance certificates and surveys.

"Members are given a micro-site within the network's website, where they can access the work referred to them from introduced sources," director Anthony Radford (pictured) told Solicitors Journal.

Membership is currently available at an 'early adopter' rate of £200 per month, and firms that have already signed up include Irwin Mitchell and NewLaw, Radford said.

The new service comes less than a week after In-Deed, the online conveyancing platform launched by RightMove founder Harry Hill, floundered after failing to establish a presence within tightly controlled estate agents' networks.

Referrals into Law Firm Network are primarily from the private client sector - trusts and will writers - with some referral from estate agents for conveyancing.

Referrers are paid a fee, mostly percentage based and set at 15 per cent of the solicitor's fees per matter instructed.

Radford said the plan was to grow the network to 100 law firm members within a year and have national coverage in the next few years.

Consumers select solicitors by specialism, then by location. At present contact is via an enquiry form but Radford said the service will offer direct contact in the near future.

The network will also offer will-writing services, estate administration - including contentious probate - and lasting powers of attorney.

The probate service will be powered by Probate Wizard, a white-labelled online service launched last month which has already signed up six firms, including Stephensons and Darlingtons.

Stephensons, a top-ten civil legal aid firm, opened an office in London earlier this year.