Is the referral fee debate over?
As we reported yesterday, the results of the economic impact analysis commissioned by the Legal Services Board concluded that the consumer does not suffer any detriment. The hard truth is that if they are not distorting the market, the argument to ban them is hard to maintain. But I am not entirely convinced by the research. The conclusions that the researchers, Charles River Associates, came to on the basis of the evidence before them seem fair enough. What bothers me slightly is whether they really sought enough evidence. It feels a touch superficial to me.
The new faces of justice
Everyone’s favourite game at the moment is trying to predict what the new team at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) means for the key legal policy issues in the Lord Chancellor’s in-tray.
Don’t charge less, charge more
There have been various articles in the legal press recently stating that conveyancing services can only ever be judged on price. Now, I know that this is certainly not the case. I know many solicitors that still charge an incredibly reasonable fee for their services, yet I also come across many others that are constantly lowering their price simply to secure the instructions.
Minority report
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has learnt the hard way about how sensitive issues around black and minority ethnic (BME) lawyers can be. Readers may recall the almighty row that erupted in 2008 over the disproportionate number of BME solicitors who face regulatory sanctions. So one imagines SRA staff and the new board have trodden with huge care in the face of opposition from the Black Solicitors Network to the proposed reforms of the assigned risks pool, which the SRA’s own equality impact assessment indicates will adversely impact BME firms.
From RTAs to ABSs
Today marks the start of the new claims process for uncontested road traffic accident claims worth between £1,000 and £10,000. It promises speedier and cheaper justice for minor injury victims. For law firms it offers great cash flow, quicker turnaround on cases and the possibility of delegating to more junior staff. What’s not to love? But isn’t that just the kind of work that would-be ABSs want?
