'Solicitors need a working code'
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• Hauliers may not be surprised by the claim in the latest Which? magazine that many solicitors offer poor service, are expensive and often give incorrect advice. In a survey of 80 solicitors Which? found a catalogue of poor service, high costs and incorrect or bad advice.
The Consumers' Association magazine found the costliest solicitor charged 17 times more than the cheapest. Most of those contacted would offer written advice, although clients were often charged extra for this. When meetings were arranged many of the solicitors failed to give a cost in advance.
Which? posed Four problems to the sample of solicitors. In one case study only one of 20 firms gave good advice.
The CA is calling on The Law Society to set minimum standards and to monitor firms more closely. It also wants solicitors to be more open about their charges; a streamlined complaints procedure; and a more powerful independent replacement for the Solicitors' Complaints Bureau.