Market intelligence for law firms of the future
Regulation
Solicitors’ support for OFR crashes
A Law Society survey finding that a growing number of senior solicitors think outcome-focused regulation places too heavy a burden on firms has drawn a rapid rebuttal from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Unanimous South Eastern Circuit backing gives green light to QASA boycott
The prospect of barristers boycotting the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates became almost certain on Saturday after all but one of more than 1,000 members of the South Eastern Circuit said they would refuse to sign up to it.
Hanging on the telephone? You must be calling the SRA
Just 17% of the 71,000 calls made to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s contact centre in the first quarter of 2013 were answered within the service level of 60 seconds, new figures have shown. There were also problems with the ethics helpline.
Government under fire for will-writing decision as few express faith in voluntary regulation
Criticism of the government’s decision not to regulate will-writing continued yesterday – although the two bodies representing the will-writing community appeared at odd over the prospects of self-regulation succeeding.
Revealed: government eyes deregulation of legal market
Further deregulation of the legal market is in the offing as a result of two initiatives at the Ministry of Justice, Legal Futures can reveal – and could yet lead to will-writing becoming regulated.
Turner fires volleys at government, QASA, BSB and Stobarts as lawyers face “oblivion”
The chairman of the Criminal Bar Association has launched a wide-ranging attack on the government, Stobart Barristers, Bar Standards Board and the “muzzled” judiciary, while warning that plea-only advocates could damage the unity of barristers and solicitors against price competitive tendering.
Law Society plots paralegal accreditation scheme
The Law Society will launch a paralegal accreditation scheme later this year for non-qualified staff working in organisations regulated by the SRA, it has emerged. It will be for all staff from secretaries to those with an LLB or LLB/LPC and no training contract.
SRA: we expect more large law firms to go under
More large law firms are expected to fail over next few years and the risk of theft of client funds is rising, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned. It has also speculated that in future indemnity insurance or even policies purchased by clients may need to cover the cost of intervening in firms.
Barristers to have tools to compete with solicitors as BSB seeks approval for liberalisation
An end to the bans on self-employed barristers conducting litigation and sharing premises or forming associations with non-barristers is in sight as the Bar Standards Board laid out the first stage of its major liberalisation programme.
LSB director questions independence of frontline regulators from the lawyers they oversee
The influence of lawyers and professional bodies on their frontline regulators is the biggest risk to independent regulation in the law, the strategy director of the Legal Services Board has claimed. Crispin Passmore said a combination of factors led him to “worry how independent regulation actually is”.
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Associate News
Brethertons Solicitors Signs with Peppermint to Support Continued Growth
Legal Eye launches new product for Sole Practitioners
Small world, big opportunities
Moneypenny and Legal Eye warn failing to answer or return phone calls could result in a reportable breach
Legal duo bolsters mmadigital
Ochresoft launch looking to support under-pressure private client teams
SearchFlow announces new ‘Your Area, Your Risk’ seminar dates
