Solicitors are partly responsible for the broad public’s belief that the UK has a compensation culture and must do their part to challenge it, according to Craig Budsworth, the chairman of the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS).
Speaking at the MASS annual conference on 25 October in London, Budsworth also told delegates that the organisation would be working closely with the Government and regulators to help them asses the full impact of the Jackson reforms on the Personal injury sector.
“Whatever the figures might actually demonstrate, there is a perception of a compensation culture,” said Budsworth.
“And a perception that we are at least in part responsible. We need to change that perception.”
Part of this turnaround, he said, would involve a better understanding how firms can connect publicly with their clients.
“Solicitors have not historically been very good at this but what people tend to forget is that the Law Society first permitted lawyers in England and Wales to advertise as recently as 1986 – so perhaps it’s understandable that other sectors have had a bit more experience,” he said.
Welcoming the deferment of a rise in the small claims limit, Budsworth said that MASS would continue to argue that there should never be an increase in the limit.
“As a matter of principle, injured [people] have the right to legal representation and should not be left to face the court and defendant solicitors alone,” he said.