Scrapping of tariffs

The governing body of Scotland's 8000 solicitors is to scrap its tariff of recommended charges. This follows mounting suspicion that the 16 page "table of fees" amounts to price fixing, which is in contravention of European fair trade rules. By abolishing these fees it is felt that competition among solicitors will increase and bring prices down.

Solicitors have enjoyed big salary increases over the last few years on the back of the property boom. The effect will probably not be as marked as expected, because firms usually have their own feeing structure based on their running costs, the type of legal work they offer and the like - and the table merely acts as a guide.

Article in the Herald