SLCC Consumer Panel launches consumer principles guide for legal professionals

The guide is designed to help practitioners and regulatory bodies to apply the internationally recognised consumer principles.

The Consumer Principles originate from a speech given by President John F. Kennedy on 15 March 1962. The rationale behind this seminal speech – that consumer rights are good for consumer spending – has strongly influenced modern economic theory. Over the years, Kennedy’s vision for consumer rights has been developed into seven internationally recognised principles.

The SLCC Consumer Panel has now applied the consumer principles to legal services and legal regulation in Scotland.

Launching this guide, the chair of the Consumer Panel, Carol Brennan, said: “On Consumer Rights Day last year, we published a leaflet for legal consumers designed to empower and inform them in their dealings with legal service providers.

“One year on, I’m delighted to be launching a tool for legal professionals and regulators. This is designed to support the sector in considering the application of the consumer principles.

“I appreciate that the concept of consumer principles may be new to many businesses.

“Others will be familiar with the concept but unsure of how these could apply in practice.

“I hope that this serves as a practical and useful tool for legal professionals and regulators.”

“The guide also touches on a number of regulatory issues which affect consumers – for example, whether current systems for achieving redress are too complex.

“With a review of legal services regulation currently underway, there is an opportunity to better integrate the consumer principles into regulation.

“We hope that this publication will be of assistance in moving towards a regulatory culture whereby service users should benefit from – and be at the heart of – regulation.

Download the guide here