The Solicitors Regulation Authority recently published data showing a 47% increase in the number of solicitor-on-solicitor complaints received in 2013 (2,698); it also provided data that showed a four-fold increase in the number of self-reports made (1,019).

There’s been a lot of chatter around the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s proposal to allow paralegals to qualify as solicitors, without undertaking a formal training contract, and many voices argue that this will lead to a further dumbing down of the profession.

In a guest blog, Chris Handford – head of research and development at the Legal Services Board – explains the reasons behind the board’s new research survey on the costs of regulation – and how practitioners can have their say

You know that feeling you get when you return to work after moving house? The warm embrace of ‘business as usual’ after a period of sustained frenetic activity, a little stress, mixed with the excitement that comes with achieving a good outcome for you and your family? Well, I’ve just completed the annual renewal process of professional indemnity insurance (PII) for more than 50 firms in our network, and it’s a similar feeling.

Three cheers! The recession is over, we still live in a United Kingdom, property lawyers are buying Aston Martins again (in London anyway) and the stock market continues its Houdini high-wire act. So why are so many law firm managing partners still feeling a bit glum?