Lostwithiel

Paul Bassett has over 25 years experience as a solicitor in private practice, initially in London, where he became a partner in a Lincoln’s Inn firm before moving to Cornwall some 10 years ago. Paul is opening, on Monday, an office in Fore St. Lostwithiel, just as major changes to the traditional work undertaken by solicitors are on the way. For the past two years solicitors have been allowed to pay referral fees to parties who introduce work, which has led to unedifying examples such as the £175 fee paid to doctors to refer patients. The first major bank entered the legal services market at the end of October. Its’ ‘Legal Solutions’ offers what it terms ‘everyday legal products’ to customers, at fees, which it claims, will be much less than Solicitors charge. The much trumpeted “Tesco Law” cannot be far behind.

Such institutions profess that they will work in conjunction with local firms: the Bank declaring, ‘Our approach to this market has been a partnership approach, working with qualified solicitors rather than trying to muscle them out’.

However, the statement included, ‘As this market gets more competitive, it is something that high street solicitors are going to have to get used to’.

Desmond Hudson, The Law Society Chief Executive, responded ‘Legal advisors working for banks, Building societies and supermarkets who are not solicitors may be more interested in selling their company’s financial services products’.

Paul recalls acting for many junior partners in several Home Counties Estate Agency practices on the last occasion the Banks and Insurance companies ventured into territory beyond their natural domain. Those clients did not want to be employees of large corporations, however great the remuneration on offer. The price of their freedom included a period out of the estate agency world, but timing was on their side as the property boom turned to bust during the 90’s recession. A few years later they were able to buy back their businesses at a fraction of the price, as the institutions offloaded their estate agencies.

Particularly since the effective cessation of public funding for general civil litigation and imminent changes for family work, Paul believes that the larger firms are neglecting the market of private individuals , who find themselves in a dispute and small businesses who have debts which are ‘uneconomic’ to pursue. Paul chose Lostwithiel because there are estate agents, banks, surveyors, insurance brokers and accountancy practices, but the town does not have a solicitor’s office.

“I want to provide a quality local legal service. If you want insurance go next door.”
All Sorts of Legal Problems Resolved
+ Dispute Resolution
+ Family & Divorce
+ Civil Claims
+ Employment
+ Landlord & Tenant
+ Wills & Probate
Tel: (01208) 871485
Saint Antony · Fore Street · Lostwithiel · Cornwall PL22 0BL