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Proceeding contribution from Lord Beamish (Labour) in the House of Commons on Monday, 4 June 2007. It occurred during Debate on bill on Legal Services Bill [Lords].


Legal Services Bill [Lords]

I agree with the hon. Gentleman’s point about access to justice, but why should people in rural communities get a second-class service because their firm of solicitors is a cosy family firm with no expertise in some matters? I am sorry, but the hon. Gentleman is wrong that solicitors say, ““I’m sorry, but I’m not expert in this, so can you go somewhere else?”” Instead, they take cases on, and people who do not understand the way in which solicitors operate think that they are getting a good service when they clearly are not. The hon. Gentleman is deluding himself if he thinks that small family firms in rural communities are turning people away when they do not have relevant expertise. They take the cases on and the clients become disappointed in the long term when they find that they are getting a poor service.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
461 c61 
Session
2006-07
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Complaints Compensation Consumers Costs Competition Legal profession Finance Fees and charges Legal aid scheme Industrial injuries Law Society Legal Services Ombudsman Misconduct Low incomes Public appointments Ombudsman Lord Chief Justice Lord Chancellor's Department Standards Regulation Trade unions Rural areas Solicitors Wills General Council of the Bar Legal Services Board Office for Legal Complaints Alternative business structures
Legislation
Legal Services Bill (HL) 2006-07
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk