An uncertain future

The government’s White Paper preceding the Legal Services Act, based on the conclusions of Sir David Clementi’s review, promoted the concept of alternative business structures (ABSs) based on an expectation of a glowing future: that consumers would have more choice, and would benefit from reduced prices, better access to justice, improved levels of service, greater convenience, and that in consequence there would be increased consumer confidence in the quality of legal services. The suppliers of legal services would benefit from increased access to finance, a better spread of risk, increased flexibility, the opportunity to recruit and reward high quality non-legal staff, and there would be greater opportunities for new legal professionals.

Too early to judge

It is far too early to say whether ABSs will ultimately deliver all or any of these benefits. There is only one certainty, which is that no-one really knows what the future holds, save that it will be very different. The fact that ABSs