Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) have backed controversial plans to introduce so-called "Tesco law" in Scotland.
Despite what the lawyers themselves think, MSPs gave their backing to the Legal Services (Scotland) Bill at yesterday’s stage one debate, but agreed that amendments were needed at stage two to address concerns.
The bill, which would allow solicitors set up in partnership with other professionals, such as surveyors or accountants as alternative business structures (ABS), will now go to the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee for further scrutiny.
The bill would also allow external ownership or external funding of law firms and could see organisations such as banks or supermarkets providing legal services in Scotland for the first time.
In its first reading at Holyrood, MSPs backed it by 92 votes to two.
Despite what the lawyers themselves think, MSPs gave their backing to the Legal Services (Scotland) Bill at yesterday’s stage one debate, but agreed that amendments were needed at stage two to address concerns.
The bill, which would allow solicitors set up in partnership with other professionals, such as surveyors or accountants as alternative business structures (ABS), will now go to the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee for further scrutiny.
The bill would also allow external ownership or external funding of law firms and could see organisations such as banks or supermarkets providing legal services in Scotland for the first time.
In its first reading at Holyrood, MSPs backed it by 92 votes to two.
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