As long as there is an unregulated will-making sector, professional and ethical solicitors, and professional and ethical willwriters, should join forces with a common goal to provide professional and regulated will-writing services to consumers by whatever means the consumer chooses.

The Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) has indeed received approval from the OFT for its code of practice (see news, 7 June).

The steps taken by IPW to achieve the OFT-approved code recognise what the will-writing sector as a whole needs to do within the constraints set by legislation. If the legislation is wrong, that is not the fault of the IPW.

To the Law Society, this may be seen as a small step, but it is a step in the right direction, and one that nobody else in the sector has taken to this point – the Law Society included.

Since launching the OFT-approved code a week ago, IPW members have received over 10,000 enquiries from consumers. This highlights consumer trust and recognition of the OFT’s code. If we can achieve this in one week – with few ‘teeth’, as you put it – imagine the possibilities for the profession and for consumers in a regulated market where rogues are ‘outed’ and the public is educated to be discerning.

So, while IPW would also like to see tough regulation with ‘bite’, we are delighted that the OFT-approved code means that, at long last, consumers have some sign of quality and protection which is safeguarding their interests.

Those representing the sector should be united towards achieving a common goal of an effectively regulated will-writing sector. Now is not the time to be critical and divisive; that will get us nowhere.

Paul Sharpe, chairman, Institute of Professional Willwriters, Halesowen, West Midlands