THE driving force behind York law firm Roche Legal is a dedication to embracing new technology in a bid to offer a unique and innovative service.

Based in Millfield Lane, with a team of three, Roche Legal describes itself as a “boutique legal firm” with offices in Harrogate as well as York, and expertise in dealing with the older generation.

Two of the firm’s senior staff are Dementia Friends Champions, able to provide information sessions to others to become Dementia Friends.

The business is entering The Press Business Awards in the Socially Responsible Business of the Year and Business Innovation of the Year categories.

Managing director Rachel Roche said: “We recognise the need to embrace the benefits of new technology and can implement significant change without the constraints of a larger firm.

“We strive to make the process of Wills, Probate and the Court of Protection accessible to all and have recently created a cutting-edge online Will writing and Lasting Power of Attorney programme.

“Our system has taken two years to develop and has just five sections to answer. It uses online identification checks to satisfy the new General Data Protection Regulation while we undertake a risk assessment to ensure the client has the capacity to use it.

“This is one of the first online Will Writing Services delivered by an authorised and regulated firm.

“We believe we have created something new to address the large number of people - estimated to be 30 million in the UK - who don’t currently have a Will by delivering a service that is both cost effective and easily available running alongside our face to face meetings which some clients still prefer.”

As part of the firm’s innovative approach to later life legal planning the Roche Legal team has also developed and published a series of free pocket-sized booklets to help demystify the legal process which are also free to download as Ebooks.

The booklets are available free of charge and have been distributed to local care homes and GP surgeries. This service is already used by other solicitors and barristers.

Ms Roche added: “At Roche Legal we are a largely paperless office and have an electronic option for almost everything including appointments.

“We are a niche firm and work closely with other firms of accountants and solicitors in the commercial and family fields to ensure we deliver our very best service while keeping costs and prices at a reasonable level.

“The innovations we have put in place have significantly helped the day-to-day running of Roche Legal and our carbon footprint has been vastly reduced.

“By offering online meetings and remote Will writing and LPA facility, our clients receive a prompt and efficient service wherever they are in the world without having to rely on a postal service.

“The cost-effective synergy this creates for Roche Legal ensures time poor clients are catered for and complements our more traditional clients who prefer in-person meetings.”