This week 15 law firms rebranded as "QualitySolicitors" - with hundreds more expected to follow.

Firms such as Lockings in Hull, Burroughs Day in Bristol and Howlett Clarke in Brighton have rebranded themselves under the QualitySolicitors banner, the Gazette reports. QualitySolicitors is a marketing alliance that aims to fend off the challenge of "Tesco Law" by drawing together hundreds of independent law firms under a single brand that will be easily recognised by the consumer in the street. It hopes to have an outpost in every town in England and Wales by autumn 2011.

  Before       After  

As franchises go it looks more Lada dealer than Bentley. The website is full of such headlines as "Ex-Emmerdale Star, Roxanne Pallett Launches QualitySolicitors in Pudsey!". And previous publicity stunts involved handing out tins of baked beans outside the Royal Courts of Justice. But anything that helps the profession see off the likes of the Co-op has got to be a good thing. And at least they didn't spell it "Kwality".
 
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