For recipients of legal services, clarity is important.
Knowing what to look for when choosing a conveyancer is difficult for consumers, especially in a market which can be challenging to navigate. If someone is trying to decipher who would best meet their legal needs, they need to be able to compare options.
As a legal regulator, ensuring that firms act in the best interests of consumers is vital to us.
In the wake of the price transparency recommendations put forward by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), we have launched our own consultation which we hope will be met with qualitative feedback from across the legal sector.
We are also holding a series of free webinars which each focus on a different element of the consultation. As well as being beneficial for those considering to put in a formal response, these webinars will provide an important opportunity for you to have your say.
Wednesday 25th October | 12.30-13.30 Quality information
Wednesday 1st November | 12.30–13.30 Service information
Wednesday 8th November | 12.30-13.30 Price information
Wednesday 22nd November | 12.30-13.30 Making information accessible for consumers
We believe that the suggestions put forward by the CMA could be seen as a positive opportunity for both firms and consumers alike.
Where legal services are concerned, comparability demands standardisation. With prices exposed, the focus for consumers shifts to other aspects of service provision such as quality and customer service. Rather than having to lower prices, firms simply have to demonstrate that the standard they provide reflects the fees that they charge.
We have been working alongside the Solicitors Regulation Authority as well as CILEx Regulation to agree a standard format for the delivery of price estimates for conveyancing and probate work. The aim of this is to ensure a level playing field for firms who will then strive for consumers to be receive a consistently high standard of legal service.
Whilst these recommendations are set to benefit all involved, it is vital that firms engage with them and consider them carefully. Rather than simply focussing on price, we believe that firms should utilise the changes as an opportunity to signal the quality of their service to clients.
Our full consultation ‘Helping Consumers Choose their Lawyer – Service, Quality and Price Transparency’ can be accessed here.
This article was submitted to be published by The Council for Licensed Conveyancer as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Conveyancer. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Conveyancer.
