'Tesco Law' is about to land on the legal services sector in England and Wales from 2010 onwards. It is intended to create a more open and liberal legal market providing consumers with greater choice and increased value for money. The law allows non lawyers to purchase up to a 25% share in a law firm. Further down the line this will allow for firms to restructure allowing them to sell shares, merge with non law firms and possibly list on the stock market.

Dubbed 'Tesco Law' after the well known supermarket chain who are one of many large organisations along with banks who are likely to enter the legal services market, the de-regulation of the industry will allow the likes of banks and supermarkets to leverage their large brands to easily promote legal advice and services to their existing consumers.

The key advantages for the consumer are simple, lower cost legal services available from many more touch points on the high street and online.

Despite the costs and availability advantages that the everyday consumer might assume from the introduction of this law, there is also a lot or scepticism about its overall usefulness. There are concerns around how this law may affect the advice given, the customer service provided, and, the impact on the legal industry as a whole.

Enabling bigger companies to enter the legal market could lead to larger firms dominating the industry which is currently made up of smaller local law firms. These larger firms may have less focus on customer service and a greater focus on revenue and returns.

De-regulation may well see a decrease in personal service from your legal services provider. The lack of face to face meetings and communication may well lead to increased confusion and frustration for the customer for whom the new law is meant to benefit.

The introduction of the law will also see legal packs becoming widely available across the high street and online. Here people will be able to purchase do-it-yourself packs including a do-it-yourself divorce for just £7.49! This is quite a difference in price compared to the current lowest cost divorce available now.