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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Supermarket law shops 'by 2011' | Supermarket law shops 'by 2011' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| High street shops and supermarkets in England and Wales will be permitted to sell legal services within two years, a regulatory body has said. | High street shops and supermarkets in England and Wales will be permitted to sell legal services within two years, a regulatory body has said. |
| The Legal Services Board said it would be working to see a framework in place by the middle of 2011. | The Legal Services Board said it would be working to see a framework in place by the middle of 2011. |
| Research suggesting anti-competitive practices in the industry prompted reforms in the Legal Services Act 2007. | Research suggesting anti-competitive practices in the industry prompted reforms in the Legal Services Act 2007. |
| Critics have described the proposals as "Tesco Law" and claim it will undermine the quality of advice. | Critics have described the proposals as "Tesco Law" and claim it will undermine the quality of advice. |
| Legislation and regulation has restricted the management, ownership and financing of firms providing legal services for hundreds of years. | Legislation and regulation has restricted the management, ownership and financing of firms providing legal services for hundreds of years. |
| Currently, solicitors and barristers' chambers are owned by the lawyers themselves under partnerships. | Currently, solicitors and barristers' chambers are owned by the lawyers themselves under partnerships. |
| More outsourcing? | |
| The LSB said in future providers, including large retail brands, could seek a licence to offer legal services. | The LSB said in future providers, including large retail brands, could seek a licence to offer legal services. |
| The solicitor profession faces being all but wiped out Barrister Craig Holt | The solicitor profession faces being all but wiped out Barrister Craig Holt |
| It said there would be more choice and better value for the public. | It said there would be more choice and better value for the public. |
| LSB chairman David Edmonds said: "It offers benefits to consumers of legal services, be they private individuals, small businesses or large companies. | LSB chairman David Edmonds said: "It offers benefits to consumers of legal services, be they private individuals, small businesses or large companies. |
| "More competition will be good for the legal services sector as it has been in other sectors." | "More competition will be good for the legal services sector as it has been in other sectors." |
| Under the proposals, joint accountancy and legal companies could also be set up and law firms will be able to list on the stock exchange. | Under the proposals, joint accountancy and legal companies could also be set up and law firms will be able to list on the stock exchange. |
| The LSB's consultation paper acknowledges the changes could lead to more outsourcing of legal services overseas and to more advice being given over the phone and through internet sites. | The LSB's consultation paper acknowledges the changes could lead to more outsourcing of legal services overseas and to more advice being given over the phone and through internet sites. |
| But the move has come under attack from some lawyers, including a coalition of about 100 firms. | But the move has come under attack from some lawyers, including a coalition of about 100 firms. |
| Barrister Craig Holt, chief executive of the QualitySolicitors.Com grouping, said the move "demonstrates utter contempt for the consumer of legal services". | Barrister Craig Holt, chief executive of the QualitySolicitors.Com grouping, said the move "demonstrates utter contempt for the consumer of legal services". |
| "The solicitor profession faces being all but wiped out by a government seemingly intent on robbing the public of access to good quality, local legal advice," he said. | "The solicitor profession faces being all but wiped out by a government seemingly intent on robbing the public of access to good quality, local legal advice," he said. |