Too many of us rely on TV drama for our legal know-how

Almost half of the public (47%) get most of their legal knowledge from TV programmes, films, magazines, newspapers, and online.
That’s the result of an online YouGov survey commissioned by QualitySolicitors Redkite, the biggest legal firm in South West Wales.
The survey found that people in Wales rely more on the internet for most of their legal knowledge than any other region in England and Wales, with 27% citing it as their main source of legal information.
A further 24% of people in Wales rely on TV programmes, films, magazines, and newspapers for most of their legal knowledge.
Books ranked last as a source with just 2% - the lowest across all regions in the UK.
The results follow the UK’s first televised sentencing in a criminal court.
During the sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh, David Gilroy was sentenced to 18 years in prison for murdering his former lover and colleague, Suzanne Pilley, 38.
The initial decision to televise proceedings prompted prominent QC, Brian McConnachie QC, vice-chair of the Faculty of Advocates Criminal Bar Association, to note that the public get most legal knowledge from TV drama.
QualitySolicitors commissioned research from YouGov to find out if this was true.
QualitySolicitors Redkite managing partner Luke Smith, pictured above, said: “Only 9% of the British public said that most of their legal knowledge came from legal experts, which goes to show how far removed consumers are from the legal profession in the UK.
“At the moment, 47% of British consumers are relying on TV programmes, films, magazines, newspapers, and the internet, for legal knowledge which, although entertaining, can result in confusion.
“Whether televised court proceedings will change this or not, legal processes must change to help make legal information and advice accessible to all.”
QualitySolicitors aims to revolutionise legal services, giving people local advice they can trust with the reassurance that comes from a single, national brand.
The chief executive of QualitySolicitors Craig Holt explained: “We want to make going to your local solicitor as simple and straightforward as going to the supermarket, and tackle people’s apprehensions about seeking legal advice, which can seem a daunting and stuffy process.
“QualitySolicitors’ mission is to provide consumer-friendly legal services through expert, leading local law firms - not unqualified staff in remote call centres.”
The legal team at Redkite beat off stiff competition to win the right to represent the new legal super brand QualitySolicitors in Camarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
“We remain your ‘local’ solicitors for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire,” said Mr Smith.
“Our very strong identity, with staff who care passionately about the community and the people of West Wales, stays very firmly in place.
“But the new branding will give us benefits throughout the region by being part of the biggest new brand in the legal market in the UK.”

The history of Redkite
Redkite was established in 2011 through the merger of two long-established law firms in South West Wales – Lowless & Lowless and Morris Roberts.
Lowless & Lowless was formed in 1898 and, since its centenary year, saw significant expansion which included the acquisition of a number of practices including Paul Settatree & Co, Walter Williams Solicitors and Rogers-Haggar.
Morris Roberts was formed on the 1st of April 1999 following the merger of two established Carmarthen firms, Morris Lloyd and J C Williams and Roberts.
The team at QualitySolicitors Redkite can be contacted on 01267 239000 and 01437 763332 or through the website at www.qualitysolicitors.com/redkite
The firm has 15 partners and a total headcount of 120, with seven offices spread across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. 

The survey:
This press release is based on research conducted by You Gov. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2125 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 20th - 23rd April 2012. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

About QualitySolicitors:
Launched in 2010, QualitySolicitors is a group of law firms across the country working as part of the QualitySolicitors brand. Only one firm per local area is selected to become a QualitySolicitors partner. Customer feedback forms an integral part of the selection process.
QualitySolicitors’ national network of lawyers consists of 350 branches across England and Wales, including 150 Legal Access Points in WHSmith stores. QualitySolicitors is on course for its target of expanding to 1000 locations by the end of 2012.
QualitySolicitors lawyers are experts in their fields dealing with both consumer and SME legal matters. QualitySolicitors offer a personal, local service but with the assurance of a recognised national brand.
QualitySolicitors’ CEO is Craig Holt and Saleem Arif is the COO.
Web address is www.qualitysolicitors.com
In 2011 QualitySolicitors secured equity investment from Palamon Capital Partners, a private equity house with a £700m fund
QualitySolicitors recently launched a multi-million pound, national campaign, designed to shake up the legal world and help make solicitors’ services more accessible to everyone. The £15 million campaign, which is the largest in the history of the legal profession, kicked off with a 90-second TV advert screened in a primetime slot during the live final of ITV’s Dancing on Ice, on 25th March. 8,000 more adverts will hit TV screens over the coming months and a new website, featuring 300 video testimonials from clients explaining the services that QualitySolicitors offer on the high street, will also be launched in at the end of the month.
To see the a advert in full, go to - http://youtu.be/4knygiE7aAE

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