Survey shows Scots favour choice in legal market

Nearly two-thirds likely to use banks or building societies for legal services

News, 20 February 2006

A new survey has shown that 88% of Scots have said they would still be "likely or very likely" to go to a solicitor even if the market opened up to greater competition.

However the survey, by IRN Research for market intelligence company Key Note, also revealed that 56% of respondents UK-wide were also "likely or very likely" to use banks or building societies for legal services. In Scotland, this proportion was nearly two-thirds of the respondents, with close to half considering estate agents.

But only 7% of Scots would be likely to use claims companies advertising on TV - compared with 8.6% across the UK. They were also less likely to use legal services provided by supermarkets or motoring organisations.

The IRN Research survey was commissioned in response to the Clementi White Paper.

IRN Research's director David White said the survey showed that the Scots were more willing to use alternatives such as banks, compared to the survey average.

The Law Society of Scotland's Director of Professional Practice, Bruce Ritchie, said the survey highlighted the fact that Scottish consumers were canny about shopping around. He added that the Society wanted people to make informed choices in full knowledge of the costs, advantages and risk associated with different providers.