The legal sector’s consumer watchdog has today warned that voluntary quality marks should not be made mandatory to access part of the market as this could ‘usurp’ the role of regulators.

In a new report, the Legal Services Consumer Panel also called for such schemes to be strengthened if they are to gain full public confidence.

The watchdog’s report assesses 13 schemes, including the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme, other Society accreditation panels and similar schemes run by professional associations in areas such as personal injury, family law and will-writing.

Measuring against a ‘wish-list’ of 10 characteristics that each should meet, the report highlighted a number of key factors that need improving for consumers to believe lawyer members are genuine specialists.

The schemes performed well in terms of entry requirements, re-accreditation and having disciplinary systems in place to deal with poor practice.

But for clients to have confidence in them, there need to be practical checks on member competence; lay input into the design and operation of the schemes; and more use of consumer feedback.

Schemes should also be validated to prove they are delivering on promises that members are specialists.

The report also suggested more information should be made available to consumers about the schemes and where they can be found: the panel found they were used by frequent purchasers of legal service but rarely by individual consumers.

Elisabeth Davies, chair of the panel, said: ‘Consumers tell us that specialist expertise is important to them when choosing lawyers, so voluntary quality schemes can be of real help.

‘However, in their current form, some schemes’ claims that their members are better than the market average just can’t be relied upon by consumers.’

Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson said: 'The report is a useful insight into what is a vital part of the legal services market. We are studying the report carefully.

'The Law Society’s accreditation schemes and our new website Law Society approved are designed with the consumer in mind. The Society assurance given by these schemes is and will be a powerful resource for our members and the public alike.

'If we can improve that assurance by acting on the reports recommendations we will do so.

'Applicants for our schemes are assessed by experts in the relevant field. Shortly, for example we will commence unannounced audit visits on CQS members - precisely what the report sensibly proposes.

'CQS has also been designed to allow for on going development, so while the Consumer Panel’s report provides a useful snapshot of the current market, it doesn’t capture fully future Society plans which will see our accreditation schemes consistently evolving. We will shortly be announcing the CQS year two scheme details. I am confident that the improvements we are planning will serve the public, lenders and our members well.'