The chair of the Legal Services Board, David Edmonds, has written to all approved regulators urging them to do more to help consumers play a ‘more active, empowered role’ in the legal services market, by providing clear ‘performance information’.

It is not appropriate for regulatory bodies to undertake this task. Certainly the Solicitors Regulation Authority does not have the infrastructure or expertise required.

Ample help for consumers is already available in the form of the major independent guides, The Legal 500: The Clients’ Guide to the UK Legal Profession and Chambers UK: A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession.

Ronnie Fox, principal, Fox Solicitors, London EC3