October 6th - the day when the world was due to end for all lawyers trying to earn an honest living from selling their legal wares.
However, it was more of a whimper than a bang, although we were amazed to hear the BBC Radio 4 news announce the change in the law throughout its morning bulletins this morning.
According to the BBC News, from today, supermarkets and other companies will be able to offer legal services and this was going to be of huge benefit to consumers.
Forgive us for being a little sceptical - a quick search on the internet today will reveal companies promising to carry out conveyancing for £99 (plus VAT of course) so is this really an appealing opportunity to "major brands". In reality, it is unlikely that more than just a few companies will be willing to take on the risks associated with such provision.
Financial services are often used as an example of where major firms have made inroads, but the comparisons are not necessarily valid. It is unlikely that legal services will ever be as commoditised as financial services, simply because there's far more involvement required from the client. Buying insurance products is a relatively straightforward process whereas buying a house or organising a Will takes a great deal of time and effort from all parties. For those clients looking for expertise and advice, such an alternative route is unlikely.
Although we've pioneered this new model several years ago, we look forward to seeing how other new firms approach this potential new market, but expect it will be several years before any wholesale changes will come.
