You will shortly be able to see you lawyer at the checkout in the UK, where Britain’s largest supermarket chain announced a new legal service.

“Tesco law” came a step closer when Britain’s biggest supermarket chain launched its own online legal service.

As well as a cheap service for will writing and storage, already available from other sources, Tesco Legal Store offers Do-It-Yourself divorce kits for £7.49 that can end a marriage without the need for a solicitor.

Other services include DIY letting agreements, to rent out residential property, and DIY business start-ups, with all the forms included on how to start a limited company quickly and cheaply. The online service has a question and answer service for legal queries and a jargon buster to explain difficult legalise. For more complex legal problems the website offers a directory of solicitors who can offer more in depth advice.

Tesco Legal Store is a precursor to wider, more personal legal services that many companies will be able to offer following reform of the ownership rules governing law firms. It is envisaged that many consumer-led companies will expand into providing individuals with legal services in direct competition to traditional law firms.

The announcement of a consultation document last July into the matter led Lord Falconer to herald “Tesco law” as a vision for high street companies to offer legal advice to clients. The consultation, led by Sir David Clementi, the chairman of Prudential, played down the notion of “Tesco law” in March when it published the document. Sir David described the term as a”diversion”.

Scroll to Top