As chair of the Sole Practitioners Group, who provided material for the news item ‘Sole practitioner numbers rise’, I would like to make a number of points.

Solicitors Regulation Authority figures for the number of sole practitioners do not include sole directors. There are currently 4,471 sole practitioners/sole directors. Five years ago, this figure was 4,446, meaning that despite 2,482 sole practitioners/sole directors ceasing their practices in that time period, another 2,507 sole practitioner/sole director practices were formed.

All of my comments concerning alternative business structures were first strongly prefaced by the SPG’s unchanged position that we are, and remain, wholly against ABSs as a matter of principle. There has been no ‘turnaround in group policy’ as suggested in the article. The group remains strongly opposed to ABSs on the basis that commercial interests will always create conflict with the wider interests of society and the integrity of our legal system.

We do, however, with both reluctance and disappointment, accept that the legislation is upon us and that we must look to giving good advice to members about how to approach the changing legal landscape.

We are not blandly advising that sole practitioners can simply ‘sell out to an ABS’ upon retirement, as suggested - if only it were that easy! Undoubtedly, some sole practitioners will be more at risk than others from the threat of ABSs dependent upon factors such as area of work, location and demographic.

However, for some sole practitioners, selling their practice to an ABS may be a potential additional exit strategy. I suspect some sole practitioners will consider this, or may even consider becoming an ABS - as has Lawbridge Solicitors, one of the first firms authorised as an ABS.

Sole practitioner compliance officers for legal practice, and finance and administration, will already be fulfilling those roles, and now simply need to ensure that they can provide evidence of compliance.

Although this creates an additional administrative burden, the role will be far simpler for the sole practitioner than in a larger firm.

ABSs are more of an opportunity than a threat to sole practitioners, who have less to be fearful of than they may think - and we want to give a message of hope. This is an opportunity to: focus on your practice and make any necessary changes; market and maximise the excellent face-to-face service and client care that sole practitioners provide; and to consider becoming an ABS or using an ABS as a vehicle for exiting the profession, if that is appropriate to your practice.

Hilary Underwood, principal solicitor, H A Underwood Solicitors, Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey