• Branded name websites
• in personal injury anything with the word personal injury or claims

So, to an interesting development this week. An established personal injury firm in Essex, Lloyd Green Solicitors are trying a new concept and a new website. the idea is called “for the people” and the website is http://www.forthepeople.co.uk. We understand that the idea is that people will remember this strapline far more than Joe Bloggs or accident claims solicitors r us. The thinking also is that the firm provides a very personal service from local people in the Essex area. A lot of the personal injury websites are national, and whilst ultimately, most people want results in the form of compensation, it can do no harm to be able to deal with competent people locally. One advantage that Lloyd Green may have is that they are an established firm. They’ve got a long track record in personal injury, which certainly helps. Good luck to them. what do you think about this form of marketing or legal marketing in general ?

Well, something is certainly up with the personal injury market, it does seem to be awash with fraud, since whiplash claims have risen out of all proportion to the number of traffic accidents, but is this more a  reflection on society than on solicitors perhaps ? The fact is, in cold hard terms, that hundreds of thousands of people have taken advantage of the no win no fee offer and made claims, many knowing that they have exaggerated at best an injury after an accident. No win no fee claims for personal injury are really the only guaranteed legal service out there for the public. Not only, under the current personal injury system, do clients keep all of the damages they get via a settlement or court judgment, but the case, in terms of expense such as court fees and medical experts fees is subsidised by the lawyers, as is the after the event insurance policy taken out to cover the chance of losing the case and being ordered to pay the opponent’s legal costs.

The other thing that distinguishes personal injury solicitors from the majority of general law practices is that they really understand the importance of marketing. If you take a look at most of the successful personal injury websites you will see they are clear, interactive and client focused. you will generally find a drop down easy claim form, prominent on each page and telephone numbers and encouragement to make contact prominent also, generally above the fold (on the top part of the page). Contrast this with many general law firm sites where often the phone number is an afterthought at the bottom of the page !

As many of you will know, the Bribery Act has already been delayed once by a number of months  and been watered down. Whilst the Act may be primarily aimed at big business and business with an international presence, it is still important for all businesses to know about it and take proportionate steps to prevent bribery and corruption. Aside from the very heavy fines which can result from breach, business owners can be sent to prison and this is not based on being involved in possible bribery but simply for failing to prevent it.

A recent poll by respected information providers Thomson Reuters suggests that up to 40% of businesses are still unprepared. The Act will come into force on 1^st July, so time to do something is running short.

One of the main things the Bribery Act requires is proper due diligence checks on suppliers or customers or unusual or high value transactions. There are now lots of investigative companies as well as business solicitors who will provide such as service and a good employment law or commercial law solicitor can also enure you have a suitable anti-bribery and corruption policy, so help is out there and available.

Consumers ought to be aware that Trading Standards are unlikely to be able to offer quite the same level of investigative service in the near future as the trading standards budget is the latest victim of the swingeing cuts to funding by the Government. Consumers will consequently need to be even more wary of who they buy goods and services from.

It seems that the budget for Trading Standards is to be reduced  £247 million to £140 million across the 200 plus trading standards services offered. As with a number of the proposed cuts, including the budget for legal aid, opponents claim that these will be a false economy when considering the bigger picture of the country’s overall economic health and success. In terms of Trading standards, the national audit Office suggest that unfair and hard sell tactics may result in overall losses to the UK economy of over £6.5 billion per annum. If this is correct, maybe the opponents of the cuts do have a valid point ?

For advice on managing your trade risk, contact us.

• been domiciled for IHT purposes in the UK at the date of death; and
• not have owned foreign assets (i.e. a holiday home) worth more than £100,000 at the date of death.