A campaign, called Save The Legal Industry, was launched last week in a bid to highlight the real implications of sweeping reforms made to the personal injury industry. Campaigners believe that the Job Loss Counter will show more than 100,000 job losses over the coming year ahead of the reforms, which include plans to increase the minimum claim amount from £1,000 to £5,000. Launched on Tuesday, the counter already held details of 2,500 job losses and the biggest hit appeared to be non-legal positions such as secretaries and administrative positions.
The government has claimed that reforms it is introducing will help reduce insurance premiums, a view that is believed to have been pressed by insurance groups. However, Direct Line and other insurance companies have already admitted that the changes are highly unlikely to yield any real results and that premiums are not likely to drop as a result of the action that is taken. A number of firms, legal professionals, and bodies have weighed in to the debate with those on the side of the claims industry pointing to the huge potential for job losses.
Changes have already begin to worry a lot of claims firms with some laying people off and even going bankrupt in anticipation of the reforms. It isn’t just lawyers, solicitors, and those directly in legal professions that are being affected either. In fact, according to the latest figures, it is those in more administrative positions that are really feeling the effects and the majority of the 2,500 job losses so far have been in these positions.
The campaign wants to gather 10,000 signatories for its petition which it will then deliver to Downing Street. An online petition has so far amassed over 3,600 signatures while an official government e-petition which was launched shortly afterwards has more than 600 signatures. 10,000 signatures means that the government will be forced to look at the changes while 100,000 signatures would mean that parliamentary debate on the topic would be opened.
My Coyne states that “The Law Society should have been at the forefront of this fight, but instead they’ve sat back and left it to others” and he went on to say that this inaction should lead to the same joblessness that those affected by the changes. He said “we call on the leadership of the Law Society to take responsibility.” A number of law firms have so far put their weight behind the campaign and having already gathered a considerable number of signatures, the campaign looks likely to build up more steam as more job losses are announced.
It is believed that the reforms to the personal claims industry will mean the loss of 100,000 jobs in law firms, claims firms, and other small claims companies. This will have a knock on effect on the families and loved ones of those concerned. If a majority of those affected sign the petition then it seems likely, at least, that the government will be forced to take a second look at further proposed changes to the industry.
About This Article
This article has been written and distributed on behalf of BCL Legal Recruitment who are specialists in finding solicitors jobs in London.