Wolverhampton Law Society Founded in 1847



Tuesday, 31 January 2012

HSBC – the world’s not so local bank?

Members of the Wolverhampton Law Society will doubtless have been dismayed at HSBC’s decision to appoint “Countrywide” to oversee the decimation of the Bank’s conveyancing panel. Upon learning of the Bank’s decision we contacted the local branch in Queen Square to see if we could talk to someone about the adverse impact it would have upon relationships with Wolverhampton solicitors and their Clients. We were told that there was no point as the Branch had already been issued with a set of standard paragraphs to use in replying to any complaints about this topic. Our contact suggested it would be better to by pass the local Branch and write straight to the Bank’s complaints team in Leeds who would doubtless respond using the aforementioned standard paragraphs. We were told that the Bank’s senior management must have anticipated that there would be some fall out from its decision hence the provision of stock responses. In encouraging the Society to take up the matter our contact made reference to the “Arab Spring” and observed that collective action was one way of getting Institutions to change policy! So for starters here is a copy of the President’s letter to HSBC on the topic.

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Friday, 20 January 2012

Express and Star puts the record straight about Legal Aid

Beleaguered Legal Aid lawyers recently found a voice when the “Express and Star” ran a piece written by Richard Miller in its Wednesday “Comment” feature. The article which sought to set the record straight about the value for money tax payers receive from Legal Aid was submitted for publication by Wolverhampton Law Society.

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