Law Society stands by anti-insurer adverts

Advert launched by the Law Society

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is looking into a number of complaints about the Law Society’s controversial anti-insurer campaign.

The watchdog has received four complaints that allege the Law Society’s “Don’t get mugged by an insurer” campaign is defamatory and misleading, Insurance Times can reveal.

The ASA will first check whether the alleged breach of advertising codes falls under its remit. If it does, it will attempt to resolve complaints informally before launching a formal investigation that would require the Law Society to defend the advert in writing.

The ASA has the power to make the Law Society withdraw the campaign if it has breached the code.

More compensation

The campaign, which appeared in railway stations, online and in regional media, promotes personal injury lawyers, and states that people get two to three times more compensation if they consult a solicitor, according to the FSA.

Last month, ABI director general Otto Thoresen called on Law Society president Nick Fluck to withdraw the campaign and described it as a “gross error of judgement”.

A Law Society spokesman said: “It’s been two months since the campaign began, and we’re confident in its appropriateness and don’t intend to withdraw it.

“We’ve had a great deal of support for the campaign anecdotally from our own members.”

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