Promoting your practice

Postcard

How we promote solicitors

The Law Society encourages consumers to use solicitors by promoting their services and highlighting the unique selling points solicitors offer. These include being:

  • more expert and reliable than other providers of legal or quasi-legal services
  • able to provide all round advice and support to individuals and businesses
  • properly regulated and fully insured
  • excellent value for money

We run media campaigns and provide online services for consumers which encourage them to use solicitors. These include:

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2009 promotional campaign

To help solicitors attract new business and retain existing clients during the downturn, we are repeating last year's successful national advertising and PR campaign promoting the strong solicitor brand to the general public.

This year's advertising and PR campaign promotes the solicitor brand by focusing on the reassurance to be gained by seeking advice from a properly qualified professional.

Advertising

The advertisements identify situations in which people need legal help with the headline - "Help, I need somebody" – which will be familiar to most. The advertising has been tested on the public and shown to be very effective.

The advertising campaign will run in the national press and in more than 200 railway stations across England and Wales as well as on board train services. It will generate over 100 million opportunities for the general public to see our message that they should use a solicitor. This represents extremely good value for money - each opportunity costs less than a penny.

The campaign will run from 21 September to 21 November 2009.

Full details of the media schedule (PDF, 43kb)

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How you can get involved

Free promotional materials

We have produced promotional materials to support the campaign that you can use to promote your own business. These can be ordered free of charge and are available in English and Welsh.

Our popular series of guides for the general public on dealing with common legal problems is also available to download or order.

To order any of these items please complete and return the order form:

Order form for guides, posters and postcards (PDF, 87kb)

Campaign logo

Campaign logo

Due to popular demand we have made the campaign logo available for you to download and use. This can be downloaded in various formats from www.lawsocietylogos.com. The scheme security code you will need to access the site is Qualified.

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Free PR support

Our in-house press team will offer PR support to members throughout the campaign by providing template press releases and articles that can be used by solicitors in the local media as well as advice on how to handle interviews and broadcast media questions.

Leading the PR team, Melissa Davis will be helping solicitors' firms throughout the UK to help them piggyback the campaign through the media. To contact her please e-mail melissa.davis@lawsociety.org.uk.

Solicitors are already backing the campaign and getting involved:

Tom Sorby, Nottingham based solicitor, Ilett & Clark Solicitors says: 'The opportunities are out there. This support has come at just the right time and is an excellent example of what the Law Society can do help its members retain their position in an open legal market.'

Geoff Dennis, solicitor, Hertfordshire based Brightstone Law LLP, says: 'I congratulate the Law Society on this campaign which is an excellent way of supporting solicitors to bring in more business in the downturn and strengthen the brand of solicitor.'

Gill Knight, managing partner of South Yorkshire-based Atteys Solicitors said: 'Many people perhaps don't appreciate the true value and important role that high street law firms play. The Help campaign will draw attention to the importance of using a local solicitor, particularly when it comes to making life-changing decisions.

'Using the theme of the Beatles song is something that is very timely, and likely to strike a chord with members of the public. I'm pleased to see the Law Society throwing its weight behind a national campaign that aims to increase the visibility of local law firms, who presently face so much competition from new entrants into the legal services market.'

Denis Stevenson, managing director of Manchester based Rowlinsons Solicitors says: 'This is another example of a law society campaign which is most welcome in these difficult times. It is quite clear the public are presently being deceived by unqualified, unregulated and self-proclaimed legal advisors offering will writing and employment services. The public perceives these services as having the same protection as those offered by solicitors who are tightly regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. This campaign will certainly help the public differentiate.'

Other ways to promote your business

Lexcel

Lexcel accreditation is a good way to promote your practice. It offers potential clients peace of mind, giving you a competitive advantage.
Information about Lexcel for your clients (PDF, 127kb)
Read more

Lawyers For Your Business

Lawyers For Your Business is a network of 1,200 solicitor firms in England and Wales offering specialist advice to small and medium-sized businesses.

Read more

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Rules on promotion

For the rules on publicity abroad for solicitors' firms in England and Wales, see the Solicitors' Code of Conduct.

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