Society's News

Corporate Members 2022

3PB Albion Chambers Ashfords Barcan + Kirby Beale & Co Bevan Brittan BLM Burges Salmon Clarke Willmott CMS CMNO DAC Beachcroft The Family Law Practice Foot Anstey (including Enable Law) Freeths Fussell Wright GL Law Guildhall Chambers Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Lyons Davidson Marc White & Co Meade King Osborne Clarke Paragon Costs Solutions Queen Square Chambers Royds Withy King Simmons … more

BLS features in Bristol Post oldest thriving companies in Bristol

Excerpt from the article: How Bristol’s oldest companies are still thriving after more than 100 years in business They include the city’s last-surviving chocolate maker a wine merchant and a tannery. Why do some companies struggle to survive beyond a year while others flourish for hundreds? Although more than 90 per cent of small companies in Britain will survive one … more

No 12, The Meeting Rooms – Conference, Meeting and Mediation Rooms for Hire

Please note that the BLS office is shut to members at present as we continue to work from home during the pandemic.  Bristol Law Society’s suite of conference and meeting rooms including a suite of mediation rooms are conveniently located in the centre between the Waterfront Area and the Old City in a modern building situated on the corner of … more

WILL WRITING – A NEW RESERVED ACTIVITY?

The Legal Services Board has announced proposals in April to deliver greater protection to consumers of the legal services of will-writing and estate administration. These would see the services brought within the scope of legal services regulation, regardless of who provides them.

The decision on whether or not to regulate will-writing and estate administration services has long been debated. In line with its statutory responsibilities, the LSB has reviewed all of the available evidence about the problems suffered by some consumers in these areas, and conducted original research, to identify what the risks to consumers are and why they emerge.

The LSB‟s investigations found systemic problems with the services delivered by many different types of provider. We found consistent patterns of sloppiness, simple errors and poor communication. This often resulted in an unacceptable service. Too often consumers were subjected to unfair sales practices. There have also been well- documented examples of fraud and deception.

The proposals would, for the first time, see all providers of these services regulated and brought within the list of „reserved activities‟. This means that:

  • everyone who provides services in these areas will be regulated; a variety of different types of providers will continue to be allowed to operate; and the regulation of those already providing regulated advice will be improved.