GISC deadlines looms

Few solicitors seem to be aware of the need to join General Insurance Standards Council if they wish to advise clients about the conditional fee policies of GISC member companies.

The alternatives to joining do not seem particularly useful.

The Law Society tells us that solicitors cannot accept 'tied agency' appointments and there is little evidence that insurers are prepared to offer them.

The obvious solution is for solicitors to to join GISC without delay, but the information so far published by the Society has encouraged solicitors to await the outcome of negotiations with GISC.

The problem with this is that the date for implementation of the relevant GISC rule (42) is 1 September 2001.Edward Wright Director, Amicus Legal