THE brother of singer Susan Boyle has set up a law firm that offers legal advice through a £15-a-month subscription service.
Gerry Boyle’s Burlington Law firm claims: “Everyone can have access to the law, without fear of the cost.”
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The self-styled entrepreneur’s website says members will have access to national call centre solicitors who will discuss their case and take action on their behalf.
And it is all included within a monthly subscription, it adds.
But the 70-year-old’s latest venture has caused concern owing to his lack of legal experience.
One Scottish legal source said: “There are solicitors in every high street in the country, many of whom undertake legal aid work.
“They should be the first port of call for members of the public rather than this bloke whose background is not in law except where it has dealt with the failed businesses of this man.”
Gerry, older brother of Britain’s Got Talent singing sensation Subo, 63, has had a chequered business career to date.
But he is the sole director of Burlington Law Ltd which was incorporated in September last year.
For his latest venture he has posted a video in which he sits in front of a cabinet filled with what look like awards.
Wearing a suit, Gerry, from Blackburn, West Lothian, said: “Many people across the country have absolutely no access to the law or legal advice because they just can’t afford the legal fees.
“Welcome to Burlington Law. Our national membership scheme means that everyone now can afford to be in touch with solicitors with no legal costs at the end of the case. So now everyone has access to the law now there is Burlington Law.”
Lawyers James Pickering KC and Jane Cozens take questions during the video and are described on the website as “two of the amazing team at Burlington Law”.
It is not his first attempt to shake up the legal sector. In 2019, he touted a Judge Rinder-style TV show, dubbed Crowd-Law TV, to try to make legal advice more accessible and more affordable.
He vowed it would help avoid huge fees — and claimed to have attracted a £4million investment.
Viewers who paid £85 a year would see a panel of top lawyers offer advice — on air.
He claimed he would co-host along with late comedian Dick Emery’s estranged daughter Eliza.
At the time said: “Somebody has to put an end to the expensive hourly fees charged by lawyers. It will disrupt the legal sector like never before.” However, the show never materialised.
A spokeswoman for the Law Society of Scotland said: “We would always advise members of the public to seek legal advice from a qualified, regulated solicitor.
“Not only are solicitors qualified to provide specialist advice, on the rare occasion that something goes wrong, there are robust protections in place to ensure that people have a route to redress through the complaints process, Master Policy indemnity insurance and Client Protection Fund.
“Currently in Scotland those who are not qualified solicitors, cannot own a business in partnership with solicitors to provide legal services.
“There are plans to allow this in the form of licensed legal services providers, which could see a range of new types of regulated businesses able to offer legal services to the public. In England and Wales, alternative business structures permit solicitors and non-solicitors to set up in business to provide legal services.
“While they cannot provide services in Scotland, they could advise on legal affairs in England and Wales or outside the UK.
“It’s important that people can access the legal support they need.
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“There are long-standing issues with inadequate funding for our legal aid system and we continue to press for change to ensure that everyone in Scotland can access the legal advice and representation they need from qualified, regulated solicitors in order to uphold their rights.”
Mr Boyle was approached for comment.
