Lawyers warn free wills could breach code as RAC launches new campaign 1

Fundraising | Celina Ribeiro | 8 Dec 2009

Remember A Charity has launched a new campaign targeting professional will providers just as a law firm warns solicitors against providing free wills for charity.

In two separate campaigns from different organisations, solicitors are being told to encourage clients to leave gifts in wills, but also warned that participating in some free will schemes could breach their code of conduct.

Legacy promotion group Remember A Charity has today announced a new campaign directly targeting solicitors and other professional will writers to get them to prompt their clients into leaving a legacy in their will.

The campaign will initially run as two advertisements in industry directories and will feature the tagline ‘if you don’t mention charity, we’re almost invisible'. Research of solicitors, and knowledge of the fact that there is a direct link between solicitors prompting a will-maker and them leaving a legacy, informed the campaign’s focus and tone.

Stephen George (pictured), chair of RAC and NSPCC legacies development director, said: “This is an exciting new phase of our work with a key group of people who can make a real difference.”

Free wills scheme could breach code

However, just as the RAC is targeting solicitors, a Manchester law firm has warned solicitors against participating in charity free will schemes for the over-55s.

Remember A Charity does not promote free wills month or schemes, but many charities encourage solicitors to provide wills for free to older supporters as part of the firms' corporate social responsibility.

Lewis Hymanson Small lawyers warn that by offering free services to people based on their age, solicitors could inadvertently be breaking age discrimination provisions in Rule 6 of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct.

Head of risk and compliance at the firm Brian Rodgers said: “Although it pains me to say it, law firms must look at their regulatory position before their wish to assist charities as this is what their regulator will do”.

Directory: Remember A Charity
Who's Who: Stephen George

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Susanne Levy
Acting Director
Remember A Charity
9 Dec 2009

We were surprised to read the above headline which we felt was misleading for readers: ‘Lawyers warn free wills could breach code as RAC launches new campaign’ and would like to point out that Remember A Charity’s new campaign, targeted towards will providers, is not in any way related to a free will service as the headline suggests.

Remember A Charity’s campaign aims to engage with will providers and asks them to make their clients aware of all the options available to them when writing or updating their will, including a charitable gift.

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