Debate on Wikivorce selling legal services

I have to confess, I too agree with Fiona. I feel very uncomfortable with this new direction. A short while ago you said you wanted to work towards changing what is clearly a very imperfect system and then almost in the next breath you are 'selling' your own new legal services. I can see your argument re: cheap air flights, so don't have a problem with you setting up your own fee paying business along the lines you outline per se BUT I don't think it should be connected in any way with this site.

Sorry, just my view. The site as is is excellent, the new addition does not seem an improvement. I give you the benefit of the doubt that you are well intentioned but it leaves me feeling very uncomfortable for the reasons Fiona articulated far better than I.

What made you choose NFLP?
What do we know about them?
Apart from their website this is all I can find
www.venables.co.uk/n0609virtual1.htm

One solicitor, two barristers and two trainee barristers?
Is that the whole team?

Maggie,

We spoke to several law firms and chose NFLP because they shared our vision and have the capabilities to deliver it.

1) Having specialised in handling cases where the Applicant/Respondent lives abroad they are geared up to work remotely via email and phone. This is what we needed to provide a national service.

2) They have modest offices above a cafe not far from Liverpool. This gives us the low cost base to bring down prices.

3) They committed to 'break the mould' and help design and deliver 'fixed price' services instead of only having the option of an open ended retainer. And not just for uncontested divorces.

4) They have committed to put in a great deal of effort to help create much better FREE divorce guides, help sheets and other resources on Wikivorce. (No-one else I spoke to would commit to this)

5) They 'get it' (lots of lawyers didn't).

6) They are nice people and do karaoke (badly ).

Cheers
Ian

Is this "partnering" a legal/business partnership? - does it make wikivorce a commercial firm offering legal services - regulated etc?
Will partnering with NFLP prevent/deter other professionals from posting on the wikivorce forum?

Is this "partnering" a legal/business partnership?

Yes.

Does it make wikivorce a commercial firm offering legal services - regulated etc?

NFLP are fully regulated by the SRA, and are members of Resolution.

Wikivorce is a website, owned by Web Communities Ltd.

Will partnering with NFLP prevent/deter other professionals from posting on the wikivorce forum?

Some may by put off slightly - which would be a great shame. But I know that many are just happy to be helping people and will continue to find Wikivorce provides a great platform for them to 'give something back'.

I agree totally with Wiki, if you had gone to my solicitors they would have charged you £240 per letter. My bill after the first hearing was £15,000.
what Wiki is doing is offering a great service at a great price and offering a free half hour consultation, you will be lucky to get that anywhere.
I send my thanks and a lot more to the Wiki Team, well done and keep it up.
kind regards
dawn