The Law Society’s latest announcement to try and ban the paying of referral fees to introducers of conveyancing work is a bad idea, according to Steve Maine, managing director of OpenConvey, the online conveyancing referral portal.

He argues that the expectations of consumers have moved on and a ban would leave solicitors even more isolated from potential clients.

He said: “It is a shame that the Law Society has seen fit to sabre rattle about banning referral fees