header-logo header-logo

08 June 2012 / David Greene
Issue: 7517 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services
printer mail-detail

If the price is right

David Greene warns of the danger of focusing on the cost of legal services

The Legal Services Board in its research note into the legal services market, published in August 2011, highlighted the advantages that alternative business structures (ABSs) would bring to the provision of legal services. There are distributed throughout the document references to the commoditisation and standardisation of legal services. David Edmonds, the chief executive of the Legal Services Board (LSB), has been recently speaking to the Law Society and at other events about the development of legal services now that the Legal Services Act 2007 has come into full effect.

Tesco law

Edmonds does not step back from a forthright approach to the advantages of commoditisation of services both for consumers and those providing legal services. Commoditisation has become summed up in common parlance as “Tesco law”. Edmonds may not put it so broadly, but some might say that the changes to provision of legal services are long overdue and are to the complete advantage of the consumer.

Consumer

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors announces four promotions

NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Possession claims are entering a new digital era, with procedural traps awaiting practitioners who assume familiar rules still govern every step
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
A polished legal defence may owe more to artificial intelligence than legal merit—and creditors risk paying the price in delay and expense
back-to-top-scroll