ABS's "help people deal with everyday legal issues"?

Legal services are set to change with the introduction of alternative business structures (ABS's) and one observer claims the government believes this will provide a viable alternative for legal aid.

The Guardian reports organisations such as insurer CPP are examining the new arrangements as a way to "help people with everyday legal issues", meaning services such as making a will and accident advice could be available from non-traditional law firms.

It reveals Britons may already have some degree of legal provision through services such as breakdown cover, suggesting the extension of ABS may not differ fundamentally from the current system.

British legal services may be among the best in the world, as each decade since the 1960s has seen 50 per cent growth in the number of lawyers and similar professionals.

With almost 150,000 solicitors currently registered, a further 45,000 individuals carry out associated work, meaning England and Wales have among the highest proportion of experts of any country.

Published by Rose Orlik