West Mids lawyers head up Twitter law firm
Three West Midlands law firms have helped set up and run what is believed to be the UK’s first Twitter-based legal service. Lawyers at Silks Solicitors, AJR Solicitors and Quality Solicitors CMHT have joined forces to offer free legal advice to businesses and individuals in 140 characters or fewer through the social media platform. The lawyers are part of the team behind @thelegaloracle, which founder Nick Jervis told Insider could become a “commonplace” feature of UK law firms.
Karen Silk, from Dudley-based Silks Solicitors; Amanda Robson, of AJR Solicitors, headquartered in Kingswinsford; and Mark Hughes, from Birmingham-based Quality Solicitors CMHT, have all helped create the social network profile.
Jervis said the three had applied for positions within the @thelegaloracle team and had made the grade due to their “extensive experience and areas in which they specialise”.
Silk specialises in personal injury, Robson in accident compensation claims and Hughes will receive queries relating to personal injury and housing matters.
The Twitter profile was set up five weeks ago.
Jervis, who has practised as a solicitor for 14 years and is now managing director of Loyalty Law, said: “Historically, lawyers haven’t made it easy for people to approach them. Some people are terrified of seeking legal advice, so this idea should work for some people.”
While Jervis accepts it may be difficult to solve most cases without legal representation, he said that “some smaller issues” may well be solved in the 140 character allowance.
“Of course, a lot of cases will require thorough legal advice”, Jervis conceded. “But this should give people a platform to take up a case that they may not have done otherwise.
“All businesses are having to adapt to the modern world, and you have to keep creative and innovative if you want your business to survive.”
He added that he hoped to extend the service to Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media platforms, but admitted he did not expect the business to be well received by everyone.
“Of course, some solicitors love the idea, some hate it. But we’re getting attention for what we’re doing; it’s getting reaction and being debated, which I see as being successful.”
