Law firms appeared outside the Royal Courts of Justice today to stage a symbolic demonstration against the prospect of supermarkets and banks running legal services. To mark the launch of a new brand name QualitySolicitors.com, law firm members handed out cans of beans labelled: ‘Legal services by supermarkets is as ridiculous as lawyers selling beans.’

Saleem Arif, chief operating officer, said the organisation, which aims to promote the use of ‘real law firms’ instead of what it calls ‘call-centre law’, has more than 100 members.

He said the protest was inspired by the former minister for constitutional affairs, Bridget Prentice, who said at the time the Legal Services Act white paper was published: ‘I don't see why consumers should not be able to get legal services as easily as they can buy a tin of beans.’