Tories mull changes to Legal Services Act

The Conservatives have made claims that they will support reforms under the Legal Services Act if they win the general election, it has been reported.

The Conservatives have made claims that they will support reforms under the Legal Services Act if they win the general election, it has been reported.

Despite having some concerns over the Act, brought in by Labour, the Tories would not immediately set about altering it, said Shadow Justice Minister Henry Bellingham MP, in an interview with Legal Week recently.

The legal sector is already facing concerns of its own due to a downturn in demand for property solicitors, but the Legal Services Act has also brought debate to the legal world.

In an attempt to reassure legal executives, Mr Bellingham told the magazine: "We would not have brought in the same Bill had we been in office.

"However, we are not going to make dramatic changes as it is not in the interest of the legal profession. We are not in the business of overturning it as it is not a good use of taxpayers’ money."

The Tories would, however, consider varying the law in the medium term, as they have fundamental problems with the notion that the Supreme Court should act as a final court of appeal for civil and criminal cases across England Wales and Northern Ireland.