Solicitors have 'different views' on ABS, Wotton says

Solicitors have 'many different views' on the impact of ABS, John Wotton, the new president of the Law Society, has told the American Bar Association.

'Some regard them as a threat, some see opportunities for well-run firms while others think they will make little difference,' he said.

'We cannot predict what form of business model will be most widely adopted but it is our expectation that as long as there is a level playing field in terms of regulation, firms will seek out the most advantageous structure for themselves.

'There is some concern among law firms in England and Wales about how they will compete with big consumer brands '“ who don't yet know much about legal practice but do know about targeting consumers.

'But I believe the future will still be bright for solicitors who are innovative, consumer-focused and highly regarded in their local communities.'

Wotton said it was 'of supreme importance' to the society that ABS were subject to all the regulatory requirements applying to other legal practices.

'It has long been our view that it is imperative that protections enjoyed by consumers who choose ABS should be the same as those provided by law firms,' he said.

The new president said he was pleased that the SRA intended to ask new entrants to the market to assess any impact they would have on access to justice and if necessary place conditions on licenses to maintain an appropriate level of provision.

'We will see how well these safeguards work in practice,' he said. 'In our view, ABS may in practice provide a means for widening access to legal services by introducing cutting-edge customer service practices; operating longer opening hours and providing more services via modern communication methods '“ although all of these can be (and in some cases already are) achieved by traditionally structured firms.'