Consultants predict surge in firms' business confidence in year ahead

BUSINESS confidence am-ong law firms is picking up and is expected to grow even more next year, according to a nationwide survey of legal practices by business consultants Grant Thornton.

The results of the survey of 180 law firms indicate that 1994 was a better year for business than 1993, and over half of the respondents expect 1995 to improve again. The firms covered by the survey have over 1,800 partners, with a combined fee income of over u450 million.

The survey shows 43 per cent of solicitors estimated their private client work had improved in 1994, while only 29 per cent had seen an improvement during 1993.

For commercial work, 35 per cent of solicitors said there had been an increase in business in 1994 as opposed to 23 per cent in 1993.

With legal aid work, however, 36 per cent of solicitors saw an improvement in their business in 1994, compared with 43 per cent in 1993.