Conveyancing: Law Society statement “condescending”
The group that forced the special general meeting (SGM) of the Law Society for its work for conveyancers has criticised the decision only to delay implementation of the new TA6 form.
We reported on Friday that the Society had abandoned plans to make use of the controversial new form compulsory for members of its Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) from next Monday.
Facing a motion of no confidence in its leadership at the SGM, chief executive Ian Jeffery announced that it was delaying the date by six months to 15 January 2025 and pledged to consult with the profession on the form’s contents.
Earlier this month, the Law Society apologised for not consulting more widely on the new form but has insisted that the changes will go ahead.
The Property Lawyers Action Group (PLAG), which gathered the signatures needed for the SGM, described the announcement as “disappointing for several reasons”.
In a statement, chairman Stephen Larcombe criticised the Law Society for saying its approach to material information (MI) was predicated on pragmatism “when its implementation would have far-reaching civil and criminal legal consequences for both the public and solicitors”.
The Law Society, he said, “has not appreciated the full extent of members’ anger over the lack of transparency concerning the adoption by the Law Society of MI”, meaning members expected the TA6 to be withdrawn, not postponed.
Saying conveyancers could use either the new or old form until January “would imply the Law Society has already made up its mind”, Mr Larcombe went on, describing the announcement as “condescending”.
He added: “Bearing in mind the numerous objections sent to the Law Society concerning the TA6 and the MI policy that underpins it, by PLAG, various local law societies and members individually, it is a pity that the Law Society left PLAG with little choice but to initiate the arrangements for an SGM.”
