‘Costs proposals must be evidence-based’ – Law Society
Summary
The Law Society of England and Wales supports reform of solicitors’ costs rules under the Solicitors Act 1974, but says any changes must be backed by robust evidence and workable in practice. It also cautions that expanding the Legal Ombudsman’s role could worsen existing capacity and backlog pressures.
Why it matters
While the article is primarily about legal costs reform, it is relevant to residential property surveyors because conveyancing and dispute resolution costs can affect transaction timelines, client expectations and professional risk. Surveyors working alongside solicitors should be aware of potential changes to costs handling and complaint pathways.
Key points
- The Law Society supports reform of solicitors’ costs rules but wants evidence-based proposals.
- It warns that the Legal Ombudsman may not have capacity for a larger role.
- The consultation concerns Part III of the Solicitors Act 1974.
- The Law Society says reforms should reflect modern legal practice, including AI and new service models.
- The consultation closes on 16 July.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
