CMA backs legal services reform
Solicitors Regulation Authority
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has welcomed a report by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which supports the importance of reform to increase competition and improve consumer choice.
The report, published today, examines how well legal services are working for consumers and small businesses. It recognises the progress already made by the SRA, including its work to remove unnecessary bureaucracy, and promote competition by removing barriers to new firms, with new business models entering the market.
The CMA supports plans to build on this and continue to reform legal services by further promoting competition. In particular, it proposes improving the package of information and data available to the public, so that consumers are able to make more informed choices.
Paul Philip, SRA Chief Executive, said: "The CMA has rightly focused on the changes that will make the biggest difference to the public.
"Too many people and small businesses are not using legal services. We agree that the best way to address this unmet need is through significantly improving information for the public and driving an open, healthy competitive legal market that provides affordable services. Our own reform programme is focussed on these objectives, but we know there is more to do. We will be looking at the detail of the report and considering next steps.
“I am pleased that as a key principle the CMA has said that regulation should be fully independent from the providers of legal services. Modern, independent regulation is what the public expect. It supports the development of a competitive legal market and can only increase confidence in both legal services and those who provide them.”
Further information on the study, which includes the SRA's submission, is available here.
Further information on the SRA's reforms programme can be found here.
