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Barristers and solicitors should provide the average costs of their services online and their regulators publish more accessible details of complaints and enforcement action, according to the Legal Services Consumer Panel.
The Panel said that legal services are ‘far behind other regulators’ and identified a ‘clear need for improved access to basic data’ provided in a transparent and ‘user-friendly’ manner.
It recommended that the frontline regulators – the Bar Standards Board and Solicitors’ Regulation Authority – carry out mystery shopping exercises to check the quality of service in ‘high risk’ areas.
Panel chair, Elisabeth Davies, said: ‘More needs to be done to empower consumers and encourage them to make informed decisions. Information, simply presented, at the time of need, is one tool that can be used by legal services regulators.’
Barristers and solicitors should provide the average costs of their services online and their regulators publish more accessible details of complaints and enforcement action, according to the Legal Services Consumer Panel.
The Panel said that legal services are ‘far behind other regulators’ and identified a ‘clear need for improved access to basic data’ provided in a transparent and ‘user-friendly’ manner.
It recommended that the frontline regulators – the Bar Standards Board and Solicitors’ Regulation Authority – carry out mystery shopping exercises to check the quality of service in ‘high risk’ areas.
Panel chair, Elisabeth Davies, said: ‘More needs to be done to empower consumers and encourage them to make informed decisions. Information, simply presented, at the time of need, is one tool that can be used by legal services regulators.’
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
