The essential guide to conduct, compliance and competence, and the Legal Services Act
Legal Executives
Regulators and professional bodies strike MDP deal
Twelve regulators and professional bodies from the legal, accountancy, financial and property sectors have finally signed a formal agreement aimed at co-ordinating the oversight of multi-disciplinary practices.
Chartered legal executives become first to recite an oath upon qualification
New chartered legal executives last week became the first legal professionals to recite an oath upon qualification. It formed part of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives’ annual graduation ceremony in Bedford.
Four bodies to throw their hats into the ring to regulate will-writers
Four bodies have already put themselves forward to regulate will-writers following the Legal Services Board’s proposal that will-writing become a reserved legal activity, with all making their intentions clear at this week’s Legal Futures conference.
ABSs will spark City “litigation revolution” and de facto fusion, says SRA chief
The UK is on the cusp of a “litigation revolution” involving boutique alternative business structures offering externally-funded contingency fee deals, according to the chairman of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, speaking at yesterday’s Legal Futures conference.
LSB to investigate regulating all “general legal advice”
The Legal Services Board is to examine whether ‘general legal advice’ given to consumers should be regulated, it announced today, but has rejected the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s call for all solicitor-type services to be reserved.
… as Law Society calls on government to slash the LSB’s budget to stop it overstepping the mark
The Legal Services Board should have its budget slashed so as to rein in its ambitions to move beyond a supervisory role, the Law Society has claimed. However, the SRA, CILEx and Council for Licensed Conveyancers have been more measured in their criticism.
QASA finally agreed after Bar Standards Board gives in over plea-only advocates
The Bar Standards Board has given way on the final outstanding issue on the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates and it is now to begin in the summer. Plea-only advocates, who had been at the centre of a major disagreement, will not have to undergo judicial assessment.
Consumer panel calls on training review to replace CPD with revalidation scheme for lawyers
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has called upon the ongoing Legal Education and Training Review to propose a revalidation scheme for lawyers. At the same event, delegates were told that judicial evaluation in the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates is flawed.
LSB hints at support for solicitors’ position in row with barristers over QASA
The Legal Services Board has given the clearest hint yet that it is supporting the position of solicitors in the row over the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates. Legal Futures also understands that the LSB is pushing the Bar Standards Board to accept a compromise.
LSB calls on consumers and indemnity insurers to help drive improvements in legal services
Regulators should empower consumers to drive improvements in the quality of legal services, while professional indemnity insurers could hand over firm-specific claims data to help target poorly performing practices, the Legal Services Board has suggested.
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Associate News
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