Solicitors have serious reservations about the new regulatory framework for the legal profession proposed in the government's draft Legal Services Bill, according to an Alexander Forbes Professions' survey.
The survey has revealed real fears concerning the power of the proposed Legal Services Board (LSB) to interfere in the regulation of the profession.
It has also uncovered deep misgivings that the proposed alternative business structures (ABS) will erode the status of the profession.
The results of the survey mirror the concerns expressed by the Joint Committee on the draft Legal Services Bill which reported to the Department of Constitutional Affairs on 25 July 2006.
Steve Holland, Executive Director, Alexander Forbes Professions said: “Our survey shows that the Joint Committee is spot on in challenging the government's current proposals for the Legal Services Board and Alternative Business Structures. As the Committee reported, there is much to be supported in the government's approach to regulation, however there are serious flaws which need to be addressed before the proposals become law.”
More than 70% of the solicitors surveyed in Forbes' research believe the bill gives the proposed LSB far too much power to interfere in the Law Society's regulation of the profession.
In addition, almost 60% of solicitors believe that the proposed ABS, which will allow lawyers and non-lawyers to work together on an equal footing, will seriously erode the status of solicitors as independent, respected professional people.
