Financial providers including banks, insurers, and supermarkets will now be able to sell consumer legal services following a change in the law.

It is hoped that this translates to more choice and better value availability of legal advice and services for consumers. The change is the latest part of the Legal Services Act, which was passed as law in 2007.

The act was dubbed Tesco Law because it transformed regulation and financing of the legal market, allowing businesses outside of legal firms, such as supermarkets, to offer services including will writing, power of attorney and probate.

Some critics have said the law could wipe out good quality, local legal advice, but justice minister Jonathan Djanogly disagrees, arguing that it will showcase the UK as a first-class legal services market.

"This is a landmark day for the UK legal industry. Potential customers will find legal services become more accessible, more efficient and more competitive," he explains.

Richard Cohen, solicitor and executive chairman of law firm Epoq agrees: "As new providers enter the market offering new and more affordable ways to access legal services, consumers will find they have much more choice in how their legal issues are resolved."

He adds: "The internet will play an important role and just as banks and insurers recognised years ago that they needed to make their services more accessible, legal services providers will increasingly deliver services, such as legal documents online for a fixed fee.

Mr Cohen insists that the main drivers for change will be "consumer demand for accessibility and affordability".