Unbiased.co.uk launches Find a Solicitor Search to match consumers with local, specialist legal advice
Unbiased.co.uk now offers free and confidential ‘find an IFA’, ‘find a solicitor’ and ‘find a mortgage adviser’ searches all on one portal
Unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website, today announced the launch of its ‘find a solicitor’ search, enabling consumers to find local legal advice relevant to their specific needs. The postcode-driven service matches users with the nearest appropriate registered solicitors, allowing people to select based on areas of specialism, preferred payment options (including legal aid), gender and language skills, all on a free and confidential basis.
Three steps to finding the right legal advice match for you
1. Enter your postcode
2. Select from a list of legal areas you may be looking for advice on, including divorce, employment law, conveyancing and wills & probate
3. If you have a preference, choose:
a. how you would like to pay for your legal advice, including a legal aid payment option
b. whether you would prefer to see a male or female solicitor
c. whether you need your solicitor to speak a particular language, beyond English
d. whether you need premises which allow wheelchair access
Alongside the new ‘find a solicitor’ search, Unbiased.co.uk offers visitors information on various aspects of legal advice, available in guide and video format. The website will be updated regularly with fresh information, news and views.
Richard Winder, spokesperson for Unbiased.co.uk, comments: “Our online solicitor search will match consumers with particular advice needs with local solicitors who specialise in those areas. As with our established IFA and mortgage adviser searches, we will do this in a way that
leaves the consumer fully in control of their research process, rather than capturing and passing on their details to the highest bidder.
“There are already a number of areas, for example estate planning or property transactions, where consumers will benefit from taking legal advice alongside professional financial or mortgage advice. And new legislation* which came into force last month will see solicitors working more and more closely with other professional advice groups. By offering consumers access to a range of professional advice types through a single portal, we expect to increase overall advice demand which can only be a good thing.”
Unbiased.co.uk has an unrivalled track record for matching consumers up with local, professional advice, having dealt with well over half a million online enquiries through its find an IFA and find a mortgage adviser searches last year alone. As well as dominating Google and other search engine results pages for relevant search terms for its established searches, the website has placed over 60 white label versions of these searches on high profile consumer websites ranging from portals MSN, Yahoo! and Orange, to news sites like FT.com, Times Online and Telegraph.co.uk. Unbiased.co.uk is also referred to by hundreds of public sector, media and commercial third parties.
Richard Winder adds: “Our brand is already well-known among a wide range of consumer media and third parties, and we are trusted for the safe and open way in which we deal with consumers. We will be translating our online search marketing expertise and partnering approach into the legal advice arena, ensuring that where consumers go to look for local legal advice, whether online or in other media, they have access to our service.”
The new search has already proved popular with law firms across the UK, attracting well over 1,500 individual solicitor sign-ups since opening its doors to registrations just over two months ago. The service is free for solicitors to join, and registered law firms will also be given the opportunity to pay an annual subscription to enhance their listing on the search results.
ENDS
* From 31st March 2009, law firms have been able to apply for Legal Disciplinary Practice status. This allows up to 25% of their business to be made up of non-lawyer partners (for example IFAs or accountants), whilst still providing legal services. This is a result of the Legal Services Act 2007, which will also usher in multi-disciplinary practices providing legal and other services in due course.
For further information on Unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website please contact:
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David Elms / Richard Winder |
Anna Schirmer/Jennifer Comerford/ Anna Moulds |
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Unbiased.co.uk |
Lansons Communications |
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020 7833 3131 |
020 7294 3682 |
Notes to Editors
Unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website
Unbiased.co.uk is the free and confidential UK-wide search service matching consumers with the most appropriate local professional advisers for their needs. In 2008, Unbiased.co.uk fulfilled over half a million searches for local, professional advice.
The portal currently houses three professional advice searches: ‘find an IFA’, ‘find a mortgage adviser’, and ‘find a solicitor’. These searches enable consumers to find relevant professional advisers by postcode, area of specialism and payment method, amongst other options.
IFA Promotion, the organisation behind Unbiased.co.uk, is now in its 20th year, and was originally set up to promote the benefits of independent financial advice to the consumer.
Unbiased.co.uk’s product provider sponsors
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AEGON Scottish Equitable Plc |
Lockton |
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Alliance Trust |
Lutine Assurance Services |
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AXA Life |
MetLife |
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Bright Grey |
National Savings & Investments |
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BPP |
New Star Investment Funds |
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Canada Life Ltd |
Norwich Union Life |
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Cardif Pinnacle |
Prudential |
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The Children’s Mutual |
Royal London 360° |
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Clerical Medical Investment |
Scottish Life |
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Friends Provident |
Scottish Widows Plc |
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The Hartford |
Standard Life Assurance Company |
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Invesco Perpetual |
Unum |
|
Legal & General |
Zurich Intermediary Group |
|
Lincoln |
|
Registered Office: Unbiased.co.uk is the consumer brand of IFA Promotion Ltd, 90 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5UB. Registered in Scotland: No. 114606
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