UK Competition and Markets Authority review of legal services market

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has released an updated report based on its initial findings on the legal services market published in 2016. The report recognises the improvements that have been made in increasing the transparency of the price, service and quality of legal services, but said there was more to do to increase “the intensity of competition between providers”, calling for reforms particularly in the currently unregulated sector of the market.

The unregulated sector has grown significantly over the past few years, largely due to the rising use of legal technology products. The report raises concerns over the current regulatory framework and the focus on professional titles and reserved activities, as opposed to the risk profile of activities. Which it suggests could restrict competition, create unnecessary costs and leave a regulatory gap.

The CMA has recommended three actions within the existing regime which would help “deliver reform in stages”.

  • First was creating a mandatory public register of unauthorised providers for certain legal services and mandating that they offer redress options to consumers.
  • Second was that the Legal Services Board (LSB) should carry out a review of the reserved activities.
  • Third was the independence of regulation from professional representation. The CMA noted that “significant improvements” have been made as a result of revised internal governance rules imposed on bodies like the Law Society and Bar Council by the LSB.

Andrea Coscelli, the CMA’s chief executive, said: “This is an incredibly important sector that people often turn to at a time of great need, which is why the CMA made recommendations to improve consumer outcomes, including through increasing transparency, as well as to address concerns about the way in which the sector is regulated. It is positive to see changes that have already been made, but more progress is needed. We encourage the Ministry of Justice, the Legal Services Board and other legal services regulators to continue to work towards reform and to make sure the sector works well for consumers long into the future.”

Read the full review here or the LSB’s response here.

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