The Legal Services Board have this morning released a press release following the Competition and Markets Authority study into legal services. The Society of Will Writers as a trade body was heavily involved in the study, with SWW’s Director General Brian McMillan attending a number of meetings to help provide a balanced view into the provision of Will Writing services. The CMA also attended a number of SWW regional group meetings to speak with SWW members and to gain insight into the way that their services are provided to the consumer.
Discussing the study LSB Chief Executive Neil Buckley said:
“The CMA’s study was undertaken because of long-standing concerns about the legal services market in England and Wales.
The LSB has long been clear that there is a need to increase competition in the market and a major part of achieving this will be to ensure there is better information available for consumers in relation to price, quality, redress and regulation. The conclusions reached by the CMA are in line with the LSB’s own.
We are encouraged by the collective goodwill and early progress made by the regulators since the report was published. The approach we are taking to deliver the CMA recommendation reflects this good start and we are keen to see this continue.
The LSB has an important oversight role in monitoring, engaging with and reporting publicly on the work of the regulators to improve market transparency. We are pleased to be able to play our part in this vital work to make the sector work better for consumers and the public more broadly.”
Commenting on this morning’s press release Brian McMillan said that “the SWW will continue to work with both the LSB, the CMA and its members to aid in providing transparent estate planning services to the public”. Expanding on this Brian added that “clients have the choice as to whether they choose a solicitor, SWW member or an unregulated provider but often the client doesn’t understand the implications of their decision and it’s something the SWW’s team are working to help educate the consumer on.” He finished by adding “that SWW members on the whole are proud to be working under the banner of the SWW and are transparent and code compliant”
Head of Marketing at the SWW Tom Stansfield, observed that membership department have been working hard with members in strengthening the structure of self-regulation without adding unnecessary work for the practitioner and the results are clear. SWW members are working to ensure code compliance.
