Whatever walk of legal life we may come from are we really going to sit back and take the continued abuse dished out against this profession? Are we really all so apathetic that we will simply sigh and say ‘oh well’ when Mike Penning MP throws ‘ambulance chasing’ insults at us? The landscape is ever changing yet many lawyers and law firms I speak with do not appear to fully realize the potential impact of the Government’s drive to legislate over perception rather than fact. There appears to be a concerted effort by Government and insurers to continue to fuel the ‘perception culture’ by hurling inflammatory insults in the hope that if enough mud is thrown some of it will stick.
Our industry is segmented and many have differing views but collectively we all want to ensure the continuity of access to justice for claimants injured due to the negligence of others. That is their right. The drive to make claimants and their lawyers feel a sense of social guilt for pursuing legal rights is unacceptable.
The Access to Justice Campaign is running in addition to the good work being done by membership organizations. The campaign needs the input of the many excellent lawyers up and down the country whose clients and livelihoods are threatened by the proposals under consideration. Exercise control over your future by alerting your local MP to the impact of the proposed changes, sign the petition and join the email campaign
Please don’t leave active involvement until a decision is made for you and your future clients. The ‘pebble in the water’ effect of proposals going through unchallenged will affect many – defendant lawyers and insurance company employees included.
Barbara Hamilton-Bruce, Director of Legal Operations, Accident Advice Helpline
Original Article: Accident Advice Helpline
Source: Claims Standards Council
