National firm Shoosmiths launched a new brand for its consumer legal services today in a bid to put its stamp on the ‘fragmented’ post-Clementi landscape.

Access Legal will deliver legal services to the firm’s consumer clients in the areas of conveyancing, employment law, legal disputes, medical negligence, motoring, personal injury and wills.

The new brand remains part of the Shoosmiths partnership and is not a separate legal entity.

The firm has launched a new website for its consumer business, which accounts for 20% of its turnover – https://www.accesslegalsolicitors.co.uk. It will also run a helpline which its consumer clients will be able to call seven days a week, up to 8pm.

The new logo for the brand and the website were created in-house by Shoosmiths.

Partner and head of consumer services Judith Dorkins (pictured) said: ‘Consumers lack easy and reassuring access to legal advice and services. The consumer legal market is fragmented and without a leading legal brand, leaving it open to new entrants as a result of the Legal Services Act.’

‘We recognised an opportunity in that we were ideally placed to put our stake in the ground as a professional law firm that wants to attain a share of this new market.’

Marketing to consumers and commercial clients requires different approaches, she said. ‘One brand trying to tell two stories is difficult. This enables greater clarity for our clients.’

Dorkins said that as lawyers had become more specialised over recent years, clients no longer saw them as being there to help with all their legal problems throughout their lives.

‘Ultimately we want to provide consumers with the solutions to their complete lifetime legal needs,’ she said.