CMA publishes review of progress in legal services sector
The CMA’s assessment of changes in the legal services sector since its market study has found some positive developments but concludes more progress is needed.
From:
17 December 2020
The CMA made recommendations to legal services regulators to improve transparency by legal firms on price, service and quality to help customers navigate the sector more easily and get value for money. It also recommended that the Government consider whether those using unauthorised providers need stronger protections and that the regulatory framework be reviewed for the longer term.
Transparency
There are clear signs of progress. For example, many more legal firms are now providing information on price, service, redress and regulatory status to help consumers shop around. However, while the evidence suggests that some customers are taking advantage of the changes, there is still work to do as there only appears to have been a limited impact on the intensity of competition between providers and on sector outcomes. The CMA now recommends that the Legal Services Board (LSB), working with other regulators in the sector, continues to build on the reforms so far and addresses some aspects of the market study recommendations that still require progression, such as providing more information on quality.