Janet Paraskeva is right to welcome the Lord Chancellor's announcement of a new regulator to supervise the work of claims farmers (see [2005] Gazette, 1 April, 16). Yet every report of the announcement overlooked the other key point that the Lord Chancellor made - the importance of trade union legal services in providing quality legal services.

He described trade union legal services as a 'foundation stone to a progressive and fair society' and said they were a 'vital element' in ensuring access to justice. Unlike claims companies, 'trade union-backed compensation claims are not part of the compensation culture', he said.


Unions act as a filter for bad claims and bring forward just claims - attracting compensation for those who deserve it and promoting good health and safety. So the best advice that the Law Society can give consumers is not 'always to seek advice from solicitors', as Ms Paraskeva suggests, but to seek advice from their trade unions.


Union legal services are already closely monitored by the unions that provide them, and so are the only guarantee of high quality legal services.


Tom Jones, partner, Thompsons, London