Express Solicitors is one of the founding members of a new trade body that will promote the positive impact of the £5.5bn-plus claimant legal industry on the lives of consumers, as well as championing the careers of the tens of thousands of people it employs.
The Consumer Legal Association (CLA) brings together leading law firms, medical reporting organisations, legal expenses insurers and other associated businesses to set a new benchmark for standards and to showcase the long-term benefits that its members have on the lives of those the industry supports, including those suffering personal injury, clinical negligence or other losses.
It will also highlight the significant role the industry plays in providing development opportunities for its employees, who are from all social backgrounds, and the major contribution member firms make to the wider UK economy every year, including through employing more than 10,000 lawyers and thousands more support staff.
The CLA is led by senior industry figures, including CEO of Express Solicitors, James Maxey who joins the board as a non-executive director.
He said: “The contribution of personal injury law firms is often misunderstood, with public debate too often shaped by talk of a ‘compensation culture’. In reality, our work supports people through some of the most difficult periods of their lives, helping them recover, regain independence and return to work, while also encouraging safer practices that benefit society as a whole.
“We hope the CLA can help shift perceptions and provide a unified voice for the profession, recognising the importance of claimants and the wide range of career opportunities the sector offers to people from all backgrounds.”
The CLA’s CEO, Matthew Maxwell-Scott, said: “Our industry can speak with genuine confidence and satisfaction about the important work it does. The CLA will be the strong, constructive voice for its members and for people exercising their rights to make a claim when things go wrong.
“We want to influence and lead the debate on the future of civil justice, encouraging a collaborative approach wherever possible and promoting best practice.
“We expect to play a leadership role in the wider legal sector, and it’s important that decision makers in the wider legal sector and in Westminster recognise the huge impact our members and the people they employ have on people’s lives every day. Our role will be to ensure our sector remains successful, continues to help those who need us and can offer a genuinely fulfilling career path.”
Our membership follows a recent report highlighting the positive impact Express Solicitors has on injured people, the wider UK economy, the public sector and the North West.
For more information, please visit www.consumerlegal.org.uk