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LEGAL SERVICES IN THE REGIONAL ECONOMY: EVIDENCE FROM WALES
Author(s) -
DAVIES IWAN,
MAINWARING LYNN
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.766
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1467-9663
pISSN - 0040-747X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9663.2007.00404.x
Subject(s) - welsh , devolution (biology) , jurisdiction , optimism , distribution (mathematics) , political science , quality (philosophy) , law reform , public administration , geography , law , philosophy , psychology , social psychology , mathematical analysis , mathematics , archaeology , epistemology , human evolution
Using data provided by The Law Society of England and Wales, the paper attempts to evaluate the quantity and quality of legal services provided by private solicitors in Wales. Both are found wanting compared to England as a whole and to an appropriate comparator region (South West England). Moreover, the distribution of services within Wales is extremely uneven with remoter rural areas and areas of recent industrial decline showing the acutest difficulties. The results raise questions about whether Wales can confront the challenges posed by devolution and the emergence of a distinct jurisdiction and by the Welsh Assembly's strategy for economic regeneration. New technology and impending policy reforms give grounds for cautious optimism.