In response to a letter from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), which gave full support to the proposed changes to legal services in Scotland, the Scottish Law Agents Society (SLAS) has made clear its objections to such proposals in a letter of their own to Scottish ministers. The changes, widely referred to as ‘Tesco Law’, aim to allow brand names to provide legal services to enable those on lower incomes to find such services more accessible. SLAS has accused the OFT of various faults including thwarting EU policy over the independence of legal services.

They say, "The Law Society [of England & Wales] and Bar Council have apparently expressed concern about the perceived haste with which the Legal Services Board (LSB) appears to be racing towards implementation. Both sides hope that new faces at the Ministry of Justice will, if not completely scupper ABSs and external investment, at least significantly amend the way in which they will operate. So if we do look down south the OFT have failed to convince. It would be unfortunate indeed if Scotland brought in ABS and England abandons it. Many supporters of ABS in Scotland were prepared to sacrifice independence only on the basis of a level playing field being necessary if England had it. Unfortunately the OFT appears to be obsessed with competition theory and seems divorced from reality. It is time they were taken to task and MSPs have a golden opportunity to do so."