You arrived at this page by selecting:Law is for Life (YEP 10/01/08)
I have noticed in recent years that Law and Lawyers seem to have gone down two very separate routes. It seems you are either a commercial firm proud of your city centre postcode or a firm who deals with private clients — and the two never shall meet. But why not?
Lawyers seem to have lost sight of the simple fact that Law has always been about protecting people and their lives and PEOPLE do have both business and private lives.
I have always believed that if you put the word people at the heart of your business and not commercial or private you won't go far wrong. It makes a refreshing change at least.
People have access to more information these days, they are wealthier and their lives are much more complex. Long gone are the days of an old tea caddy hiding behind the bag of flour in the parlour which held a few extra pounds for a rainy day.
We are achievers, we have property, businesses, investments, pensions, elderly relatives who need professional care etc. We are also a good deal cleverer than to just leave our worldly goods to the tax man.
Our communities are also very different, we cannot pigeon hole anymore. Britain is full of PEOPLE and each of these people is drastically different from the next. We are now a very diverse bunch with very diverse needs. Categorising clients and areas of law means you are turning business away unnecessarily. The legal profession seem to drag their heels through change at every turn. Some firms even ignore immigration work thinking it as automatic low grade stuff. There are plenty of British people who are prosperous third generation immigrants. These people need business and life legal advice. They want expert help from the best people who know very well the legal ropes and systems.
People start work or start businesses, they start marriages and families and unfortunately all these have a life cycle and don't last for ever. We don't last for ever. Thank goodness!
All life matters touch the area of law in one way or another and people are becoming more desperate to consolidate areas of their life not branch out further and further like the roots of an old oak tree. It just adds to the stress of modern day living. Turning to one legal place or even one legal person can seriously de-stress and simplify these life matters for people which is worth its weight in gold. We like and need human contact. We like relationships and we like to trust. A foot high pile of business cards for our every human need just leads to more complexity and isolation.
So I and my law firm is proud to serve PEOPLE, just people because that's what the law was created for in the first place. I don't care for categorisation I care for communities and that's why I am proud to be right in the heart of them.
- Look out for my column which will be weekly from now on.
- My colleagues and I regularly provide FREE speakers to local non-profit club and group meetings. Any donations received are automatically given to charity.
- You can read all past columns on our website www.LawOffice.co.uk
- If you have a legal query that you think might be interesting to other readers too please send it to me at Horsforth Law Office, New Road Side, Horsforth, LS18 4QE. T: 0113 258 6888 or email john.wilson@LawOffice.co.uk