A solicitor has launched a ­website to bring together prospective clients and solicitors who will take on their cases in an attempt to drive claims handlers out of the process.

The Law Bazaar, set up by Costas Andrea (pictured), who practised as an international litigator for 20 years, invites clients to post anonymised details of their cases free of charge to help them find a lawyer.

Lawyers interested in the case can then contact the client directly. Lawyers pay a one-off charge for each case they accept through the site: £150 for injury cases and £50 for all others.

Thelawbazaar.com also carries clients’ reviews of lawyers and a forum in which they can chat anonymously online about their cases.

Andrea said that the main driver for setting up the site is to remove claims handlers from the process. ‘They do nothing that solicitors could not do themselves,’ he said. ‘I don’t see what they add except expense.’

Beth Powell, head of marketing at the National Accident Helpline, said: ‘Consumers are often more comfortable dealing with an intermediary rather than lawyers in the first instance. Often they are fearful of the legal process and of calling lawyers directly, and just want free advice from a trusted source.’

Andy Hoe, marketing manager at Russell Jones & Walker, which owns Claims Direct, said: ‘The success of the site will depend on how well it promotes itself and whether the public understand what will happen to them. People will use a brand name that they recognise.’