AN EAST Yorkshire law firm will offer advice about its services in branches of WH Smith.

From next month, Lockings, which has offices in Hull and Beverley, will have representatives present at the high street store six days a week to offer advice on legal services.

The QualitySolicitors brand, which was set up by Lockings and 11 other firms last year, signed the deal with WH Smith last April.

Its member law firms will be represented in 150 branches.

Richard Allen, managing partner of QualitySolicitors Lockings, said the aim was to make their legal services more accessible to people who might not traditionally consider going to a law firm for help.

He said: "This is an opportunity for us to develop better customer services for those people who might require legal services and to give our clients and future clients an opportunity to access our legal services in an environment they are familiar with.

"The whole aim is to make our services more accessible and friendly."

QualitySolicitors Lockings has employed five part-time staff, who are all specialists in customer service, to man the WH Smith stores in Whitefriargate and The Prospect Centre in Hull and Toll Gavel in Beverley.

The representatives will book appointments online and provide quotes for conveyancing, wills and fixed-fee advice sessions.

There is also a new loyalty card scheme which will provide continual benefits to the consumer.

Mr Allen said: "Hopefully, it will take the fear out of walking through a solicitor's door and worrying about how you are going to be treated and what it is going to cost.

"Market research has identified this as a major worry for people."

The move is partly in preparation for the so-called "Tesco law" which comes into effect in October allowing banks, supermarkets and other retailers to provide legal services for the first time.

Mr Allen said: "Clients are dealt with at a local level rather than having to deal with call centres and all the trappings of a big organisation."