Bradford law firms face extinction unless they adapt to "the brave new world of the future" sparked by a shake-up of legal services.

The warning is from Yorkshire law firm Irwin Mitchell in its reaction to the Government's White Paper on legal reforms, "Putting Consumers First".

The firm said the proposals would change the legal landscape for ever as well as creating both threats and opportunities on a scale never seen before.

The reforms make it possible for shoppers to buy legal services from supermarkets, banks, building societies and insurers.

Proposals include law firms being owned by outside investors and operating in conjunction with accountants, bankers, surveyors and insurers.

Irwin Mitchell managing partner David Knaggs said: "These desirable changes to an industry too often seen as set in its ways will raise the bar and increase competition.

"Its measures will increase service quality and decrease prices, while offering more choice."

He warned there was a danger some Bradford law firms would ignore the changes and fail to plan for the future marketplace.

"New entrants and ways of doing business will reinvigorate our industry, inject excitement and offer new opportunities, but practices which don't recognise this won't survive," he said.

Tim Ratcliffe, partner at Gordons, Bradford's largest legal practice, said: "We are well aware of the challenges and are planning to respond in a way appropriate to our legal market in Yorkshire.

"It is worth remembering many of the changes will have the greatest impact on high street firms serving the consumer market, rather than firms like ours which focus on business clients.

"There will undoubtedly be consumers who will want to buy legal services with a supermarket-style delivery.

"The legal profession has been conservative in the past and I agree that for some smaller high street practices who currently get most of their income from house property and probate work, the future presents some considerable challenges."