Future of legal services: views deadline closes in

Law Society of Scotland's consultation closes on 31 January


The Law Society of Scotland’s consultation on the future of legal services in Scotland will close in two weeks' time, on Thursday 31 January.

The debate surrounds the potential for introducing changes to the rules governing law firms. These could see the legal services market opened up to other providers, such as banks or supermarkets who are already gearing up to offer legal services to consumers in England and Wales.

Richard Henderson, President of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “This is a highly complex issue but is one of the most important to arise in the history of the Scottish legal profession and could result in far reaching changes for the profession, the Society and the public.

“We have urged the legal profession and all other interested parties to respond by the upcoming deadline as the views of our members - whether from a small high street firm or the larger corporate firms with an international client base - and of consumers' groups and other professions, are key to informing how the Society develops its policy for the future. This will then be put to the Scottish Parliament later this year.”

The consultation, entitled "The Public Interest: Delivering Scottish Legal Services" is on the Society’s website www.lawscot.org.uk/Members_Information/members_information/<.

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