Property lawyer Mary Hoffman has welcomed new Government rules aimed at opening up legal services and providing consumers with greater choice.
Mary, principal at Hoffman Male – the Swindon firm specialising in conveyancing, wills and probate – said the Legal Services Act 2007 will also give law firms scope to innovate and offer related services.
“I know some legal practices are concerned about the changes, but I see them as beneficial to our clients and to us,” said Mary. “The new law will help to ensure that legal firms maintain high standards of service while its approach to regulation will enhance consumer protection. It also gives us greater scope for the services which we can provide.”
The Legal Services Board, brought in by the Act, is reforming and modernising the marketplace, said Mary, adding that extra regulation, which has been criticised by some in the profession, would not impact Hoffman Male as the firm already meets stringent standards required by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
She said: “As specialists in property and probate law we are regulated by the CLC, which is the only approved regulator under the new rules. For consumers the changes mean that there will be greater choice and more security. For us, we will have the opportunity to offer other services. It’s a modern, fresh approach which fits in with our way of thinking and we believe it is what consumers want.”
Hoffman Male relocated its Swindon office Windmill Hill in the spring to accommodate its growing probate and wills department.
