Client
Clients instruct a legal professional — whether a solicitor, conveyancer, legal executive, or another individual with sufficient training, education and/or experience in the client’s required area of work.
The client’s case file mirrors what would be found in a traditional solicitor’s office, comprising compliance information, case notes, correspondence, documents and accounting. Everything is there and open to the client, enabling them to actively manage their legal case while being fully informed of its current position. This gives the client significant time and cost savings, as they are fully in the picture as to the status of their legal matter.
The Client can run multiple matters at any time depending upon availability of Legal Services Providers to conduct their work.
The client is free to choose the legal professional of their choice. Work provided by the legal professional is billed to the client, who can see each and every item as it is billed, within pre-agreed fee limits typically paid in advance. This offers significantly better value for money owing to the administrative ease with which the case is managed.
Legal Services Provider
Vetted by the solicitor-run service, providers with the required expertise apply to run cases on the portal. Providers submit evidence of their experience together with up-to-date proof of insurance. Subject to vetting and their agreement to abide by the conditions of the portal, the legal services provider is free to offer their services to clients who choose to instruct them.
Legal services providers must run their cases through the service. They communicate with the client and record their advice, typically using the File Notes folder, and record correspondence with third parties. Client interaction is usually via the File Notes folder, which takes the format of a conversation.
When the provider carries out billable legal services, they charge their time in the usual way and the client’s running total bill is updated. From time to time the provider will request payment on account. The case file is available to the provider and the client at any time, in a printable format, in full. Should they stop using the service, the case comes to an end, or they wish to instruct someone else or, complete the work themselves, they can print their whole file at any time and bring their instructions to an end.
The service is designed to prevent clients being left in the dark as to the progress of their legal instructions, and to enable legal services providers to carry out their work in a quick, efficient and cost-effective manner.
