For the past six months, I have had the pleasure of being a secondee at the Association of Consumer Support Organisation (ACSO).
I want to express my gratitude to the team at ACSO who have been great to work alongside. ACSO’s flexible nature allows for the secondment programme to fit right in with other aspects of my work and I can happily say that I feel I have been welcomed with open arms.
As most of us are consumers at various points in our lives, it has been eye opening to see the work that ACSO does and how consumers are always at the forefront of their thinking.
During my time at ACSO, I have drafted its responses to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) consultation on its Business Plan and Budget for 2025/26, an SRA consultation on first-tier complaints and a Legal Services Board consultation on upholding professional ethical duties. This has given me the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding on the impact regulators have on consumers and how ultimately any proposals need to promote access to civil justice. One of the most rewarding parts of my time at ACSO was being able to challenge proposals that may not initially consider the consumer perspective.
I have also assisted on an Alternative Dispute Resolution report which discusses the ever-changing law surrounding the UK’s arbitration framework, especially in light of the new provisions of the Arbitration Act 2025. This report has allowed me to utilise my legal research and drafting skills to ensure that the contents are current and concise. On a personal note, it was also lovely to be able to bring the report to life with ACSO-inspired colours and images to reflect its key messages and make use of my creative side.
While I am sad my time at ACSO come to an end, the last six months have enabled me gain invaluable experience in areas that I would not have usually had access to, and I often discuss ACSO’s work with my friends and colleagues.