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<p>The legal profession in England and Wales operates independently of government.
The responsibility for regulating the sector sits with the approved regulators, overseen
by the Legal Services Board (LSB). The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is responsible
for regulating the professional conduct of solicitors, as well as most law firms in
England and Wales. The SRA’s role involves protecting clients and the public. The
different ways in which they can provide support to consumers of legal services can
be found on their website: <a href="https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/who-we-are/expect-from-us/"
target="_blank">SRA | What you can expect from us | Solicitors Regulation Authority</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>For clients based in Scotland, the Law Society of Scotland (TLSS) is the professional
body responsible for regulating Scottish solicitors. They have confirmed that they
are taking measures to meet their regulatory obligations and assist consumers impacted
by the collapse of WW & J McClures. Advice for those affected by the collapse
of McClures can be accessed on TLSS’s website: <a href="https://www.lawscot.org.uk/news-and-events/law-society-news/mcclures-jones-whyte-faqs/"
target="_blank">https://www.lawscot.org.uk/news-and-events/law-society-news/mcclures-jones-whyte-faqs/</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government is aware of the issues surrounding WW & J McClures collapse,
which involve multiple regulators responding to former clients across Scotland, England
and Wales. Government officials have spoken to the SRA, which has confirmed that it
is aware of the issues at hand and is continuing to investigate them at a senior level.
There are several routes in place to ensure consumers have access to support in the
event of the collapse of their solicitor’s law firm.</p><p> </p><p>The Legal Ombudsman
(LeO) deals with service complaints against regulated legal services providers – including
those who are no longer operational. Their website provides information with regards
to the different routes available for consumers depending on their personal circumstances:
<a href="https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/for-consumers/factsheets/complaining-about-closed-service-providers/"
target="_blank">Complaining about closed service providers | Legal Ombudsman</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>With regards to the issue of raising awareness among clients of McClures, there
are requirements with respect to the advertising and publication of an insolvency
so that creditors and other interested parties are made aware. The administration
of McClures was advertised as required in the <a href="https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3796214"
target="_blank">London Gazette</a>. Information for former clients of McClures in
Scotland was also published by <a href="https://www.lawscot.org.uk/news-and-events/law-society-news/mcclures-jones-whyte-faqs/"
target="_blank">Law Society of Scotland</a>. In addition, for clients of McClures
across Great Britain, Jones Whyte published an <a href="https://joneswhyte.co.uk/wills-trusts-probate/mcclure-solicitors/?utm_feeditemid=&utm_device=c&utm_term=mcclure%20solicitors&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=McClure+Solicitors&hsa_cam=15061896863&hsa_grp=124024531090&hsa_mt=e&hsa_src=g&hsa_ad=555681564615&hsa_acc=9487076891&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_kw=mcclure%20solicitors&hsa_tgt=kwd-355560480150&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt7yH6oKvggMVjI5QBh1vZggqEAAYASAAEgKtGfD_BwE"
target="_blank">extensive list of FAQs</a>, covering the number of clients it had
taken on, the steps it was taking to contact those clients, and the procedure for
clients to transfer to another legal firm if they wished.</p>
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