The Law Society Gazette on 1st May 2008 carried an article saying that firms had to shape up for the stock market. So how likely is it that a high street practice is going to be attracting the likes of Duncan Bannatyne from Dragon’s Den and receive pot loads of money to become a national player? I suspect every solicitor knows the answer to this one and it would be simply that it is extremely unlikely that anyone would want to put money into solicitors firm. I suspect the only outside investment that will come into the high street firms and smaller regional commercial practices will be from legal executives and non-qualified family members. I would be extremely surprised if anyone with any business sense wanted to put money in as the returns are so slight on most legal work. The only difference is of course when work is done in bulk and there are reasonable profit margins about. However firms like Hammonds Direct, the other volume conveyancing operations have been the first to announce...
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