For those firms that have decided they need to do something to meet head on the challenges of alternative business structures and the rest, but are a bit hazy on exactly what that something should be, there are no shortage of options.

My latest blog on how slowly decisions are made in our new regulatory regime and how figures about the number of complaints against financial institutions put the debate over publishing law firms’ complaints records into a stark context, while it is time to bid farewell for good to the Legal Complaints Service.

In truth there were no great surprises in the litigation costs announcements yesterday. The claimant lobbying effort has been significant but apparently to no avail and as generally expected Lord Justice Jackson will see his recommendations implemented.

That the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority are not the best of friends is not news to those close to the world of legal regulation. They generally keep it reasonably well hidden from public view but this week we have seen a bit of a “he said, she said” over what happened in the week between the SRA approving the ABS licensing application and the Law Society council agreeing it.

Barbara Hamilton-Bruce looks at the significant problems caused to clients when law firms suddenly shut their doors “voluntarily” and what can be done by solicitors and the SRA to make it a far smoother experience for the public