Alternative Business Structures

Alternative business structures are a new type of law firm which can be owned by non-lawyers and can provide both legal and non-legal services. In practice, this might mean the establishment of new businesses that provide a range of different services under one roof, such as estate agency and conveyancing, or it might mean that large national retail chains open their own law firms on the high street.

Whatever types of businesses emerge, this should promote greater competition and enable more choice for consumers. However, it is also essential that appropriate consumer safeguards are put in place and the impact on access to justice is watched closely. The Panel has been closely involved in the design of the new regulatory system - our consultation responses can be accessed below.

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers licensed the first Alternative Business Structure on 6 October 2011. The Solicitors Regulation Authority is expected to become a licensing authority in early 2012. As the new firms become a reality, the Panel’s focus will shift to monitoring the changing legal services market, making use of complaints and other intelligence to identify new areas of detriment. Where necessary, we will suggest improvements to the regulatory framework.

Key Documents

Date	Title	Description
4 April 2011	LSB - SRA application to become a Licensing Authority (pdf, 121kb)	Response to the LSB on the Solicitors Regulation Authority's application to become a Licensing Authority
7 March 2011	LSB - CLC application to become a Licensing Authority (pdf, 96kb)	Response to the LSB on the Council for Licensed Conveyancers' application to become a Licensing Authority
18 January 2011	SRA - Architecture of change Part 2: the new handbook (pdf, 120kb)	Response to the Solicitors Regulation Authority's further consultation on its new handbook
22 December 2010	BSB - Regulating entities	Response to the Bar Standards Board consultation on whether to regulate entities
25 October 2010	CLC - Code of Conduct (pdf, 126kb)	Response to the Council of Licensed Conveyancers consultation on its new Code of Conduct
30 July 2010	SRA - New Handbook (pdf, 170kb)	Response to the Solicitors Regulation Authority consultation on its new handbook
23 July 2010	SRA - Outcomes-focused regulation (pdf, 160kb)	Response to the Solicitors Regulation Authority consultation on transforming the SRA’s regulation of legal services
26 February 2010	SRA - Outcomes Based Regulation (pdf, 118kb)	Response to Solicitors Regulation Authority consultation on proposals for an outcome-based approach to regulation
17 February 2010	LSB - ABS Licensing (pdf, 163kb)	Response to Legal Services Board consultation on approaches to licensing Alternative Business Structures.