A Yorkshire law firm has teamed up with the founder of Freeserve to launch a national chain of high-street law stores called Legal365.

Last Cawthra Feather and Ajaz Ahmed (pictured) launched the venture in July as a website - Legal365.com - to enable consumers and small to medium-sized business to create DIY legal documents.

Later this year Legal365 will open its first high-street store in Leeds, which will be followed by others around the country.

Ahmed told the Gazette that people will be able to walk into the stores and be seen by a lawyer without an appointment, receiving a ‘while-you-wait’ service.

The company is owned and operated by the law firm LCF, but once alternative business structures are permitted, Ahmed said he will also have a stake in it.

Ahmed told the Gazette it aims to expand through both a franchise model and through stores owned by the company.

The company has entered into a partnership with the Forum of Private Business, enabling its members to access its services at discounted rates, and is looking to do deals with other partners.

Ahmed told the Gazette: ‘The legal sector will go through enormous change over the next few years, with new entrants coming into the market. The traditional way of doing business is going to have to change.

‘It is quite intimidating for many people to go to a lawyer. The impression they get is that the service will be poor and expensive with no transparency over the fees.

‘We are going to offer a fixed price, prompt and responsive service with friendly staff and a great customer experience.’

Ahmed added: ‘The legal industry has been an old protected industry that has had little incentive to change. Many lawyers are going to find it difficult to adapt and change to a new customer-focused world.’

He added: ‘We believe we have a winning combination that allows people to buy legal service online and in the high street at a time that suits them and not the lawyer.’