Will Aid goes Annual

The Will Aid campaign has been running successfully for twenty years on a biennial basis. But as a result of demand from the public and solicitors the campaign will now run every November. This provides the opportunity for more solicitors who want the chance to do something really worthwhile and boost business to join Will Aid.

Will Aid is the UK’s most successful UK-wide charity Will scheme and attracts new clients to solicitors’ offices by offering a no fee Will-writing service in return for the client’s donation to the nine Will Aid charities. These charities work all over the World, helping people to improve their lives, their communities and build a brighter future.

Shirley Marsland of Will Aid explains:

“We need more caring and generous solicitors from all over the UK to join us for our 2008 campaign. Every Will Aid produces a wealth of enquiries from people wanting to make their Will; our aim is to ensure that every one of these people has access to a local participating solicitor.

Running the campaign every year will ensure that people come to know November as the month to put their affairs in order with Will Aid. Taking part can be quite painless as solicitors are free to choose the number of Wills drafted under the scheme and organise the timing of the work to suit their needs. The Will Aid publicity team generates a huge amount of publicity for participating solicitors so taking part could even save money on marketing to attract new clients.”

Since Will Aid started in 1988, the scheme has persuaded around 120,000 clients into solicitor’s offices to write their Will - many for the first time. These clients are likely to recommend their Will Aid solicitor to friends and to choose their Will Aid solicitor for their future legal needs. The campaign has also raised nearly £7 million in donations, which have improved the lives of thousands of people around the world. Tens of millions more have also been pledged in legacies to the Will Aid charities, helping to ensure that their vital work can continue to help future generations.

Feedback from participating solicitors demonstrates that Will Aid is indeed good for business. Taking part in Will Aid is motivating for staff, generates a great deal of positive local publicity for the firm and introduces a large number of new clients – a significant proportion of whom appoint the firm as Executor or later instruct the firm in other fee paying work.

Hard work – but definitely worth it!

Once again Scotland led the UK in the 2006 campaign. Thorntons Law LLP was the top-performing firm raising a staggering total of £13,000.  Nick Barclay, Managing Partner, explains how they did it.

"At Thorntons we work hard across the firm each year to promote Will Aid across our vast client base and it is marvellous to be the top fundraiser once again with more than 150 new wills written during the course of the 2006 campaign.

“Everyone aged over 16 should have a Will, regardless of their circumstances.  Will Aid provides an excellent opportunity for people to seek advice from a solicitor have an opportunity to review all of their affairs and put these in order. That’s where we can help by getting clients thinking not only about their will and what they want to happen to their property and possessions after they have gone but also to consider issues such as tax planning, powers of attorney, trusts and financial services.   Often people can be reluctant to make a Will but find that the experience is not nearly as daunting as they expected.  Once we sit down with clients and get them really thinking about their affairs then they find that there are often issues which need addressed.  Our clients both new and existing have been overwhelmingly supportive of the Will Aid campaign and we continue to work hard to contribute to its success.”

Will Aid depends on the goodwill and participation of solicitors who want to make a positive difference to the lives of those in need. To find out more, visit www.willaid.org.uk. To take part, either register on-line, email shirley@willaid.org.uk or phone the Campaign Office on 01460 271178.