New Legal Services Bill Published - Updated
Consumers: 21st Century Legal Services
DCA Press Release
24 May 2006
Radical changes to the £19 billion provision of legal services
- including one-stop shops for house buying and dealing with
bereavement - will flow from new legislation published today which
puts consumers first. The draft Legal Services Bill published
today by the Department for Constitutional Affairs paves the way
for improved choice, quality and availability in the legal
services market. The Bill:
- puts the interests of consumers first
- encourages more competition, innovation and transparency in the
provision of legal services
- safeguards the independence and reputation of the legal
professions
The shake-up of the legal profession provided for in the Bill will
include enabling lawyers and non-lawyers to work together in new
structures which will be able to provide legal services in new
ways. Examples include:
* House purchase: when buying a house, consumers would be able to
buy all their professional services - conveyancing, surveys, and a
mortgage - from a single provider.
* Bereavement: people will be able to ease the stressful process
of resolving issues following the death of a loved one by getting
professional advice on wills, investment and tax advice and the
impact of any outstanding debts in one place.
Draft Legal Services Bill Published
DCA Ministerial Statement
24 May 2006
The draft Bill sets out our detailed plans for the creation of a
strong independent oversight regulator the Legal Services Board
which will ensure that front line regulators discharge their
duties effectively. In addition, legislation will provide the LSB
with a wide range of powers including those to authorise and
de-authorise front line regulators and to quickly bring
unregulated legal services under its remit through secondary
legislation to best protect consumers interests. Our proposals
also provide for the creation of an independent Office for Legal
Complaints, which for the first time will remove the handling of
legal complaints from the legal professions. The OLC will help to
foster greater consumer confidence and result in quick and fair
redress. The draft Legal Services Bill also sets out arrangements
to facilitate alternative business structures, which would enable
different kinds of lawyers, and lawyers and non-lawyers, to work
together on an equal footing. These structures will allow legal
services to be delivered in new ways, promoting greater
competition and innovation and enabling providers to better
respond to the demands of consumers. A range of safeguards will be
put in place to protect consumers and demand high standards.
Legal Services Ombudsman Welcomes Consumer Focussed Reforms
DCA Press Release
24 May 2006
Zahida Manzoor, welcoming the draft Legal Services Bill, said:
"Throughout the development of the draft Bill, from the changes I
advocated as Ombudsman to today's launch, the word 'consumer' is
used everywhere by everyone. This is important - it is not just a
throwaway term. This draft Bill really does have the potential to
make a difference to anyone who uses legal services in England and
Wales, all those who provide legal services, and anyone who has a
complaint about legal services, if implemented appropriately."
For more information including soon the draft bill go to:
http://www.dca.gov.uk/legalsys/lsreform.htm
31 May 2006
Important Reforms Must Not Increase Cost,
Complexity of Legal Services
Law Society Press Release
24 May 2006
Commenting on the Legal Services Bill,
"However, the Society is warning that the independence of the
legal profession must be protected and that the legislation must
not create a regulatory quicksand riddled with duplication, delay
and unnecessary burdens which could harm the competitiveness of
our legal services market and add to costs for consumers."
Read full comments from the President and the Chief Executive.
General Law Society site about Legal Services Reform