ONE of Bolton’s oldest law firms has opened a new office in the town centre.
Russell & Russell, started in 1887 by William Russell, has its head office in Wood Street. Now, it has also opened a new “legal shop” in Newport Street in one of the premises upgraded in a £3 million central scheme close to the new £48 million transport interchange.
This is in addition to the firm’s offices in Atherton, Bury, Chester, Farnworth, Horwich and Middleton.
Part of the firm’s personal injury department is working from the upper two floors of the building, moving in teams from Bolton and Atherton to create this new centre of expertise. It deals with accidents at work, road traffic accidents, slips and trips and any other type of accident or injury including clinical negligence.
The ground floor is a legal advice centre for clients wanting help with residential and commercial property, wills and probate, family matters and criminal defence services.
There is also a free legal clinic each Saturday from 11am to 3pm dealing with personal injury inquiries of all kinds.
Twenty-one Russell & Russell staff have moved into the new office – a mixture of secretaries, solicitors and partners. Derrick Smethurst, head of the personal injury department, said: “We deliberately chose this site in the heart of the retail district because of its prominent visible position and its easy accessibility for clients.
“We wanted to improve our service offering to the Bolton community by being very welcoming and accessible, without losing our core values of professionalism, quality advice and efficient service. We had planned for some time to offer a drop-in centre for any legal problems and this move has provided that opportunity.
“So far, we have had a very positive response from the public. I think people particularly appreciate the fact that no appointment is necessary and that we open during the week from 8.30am to 6pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.”
“We understand that it’s not always possible to see a solicitor during normal working hours so we’re trying to ensure that we’re available to everyone.”