Latest news
Top PI marketing collective opens panel for first time “to help smaller firms compete”
Marketing collective First4Lawyers – which last autumn launched a £10m personal injury advertising campaign – is to open up its panel for the first time as it looks to increase its market share.
Will-writing body reports surge of applications following launch
A network set up as an alternative to established will writing representative bodies has claimed that in less than a fortnight since launch, it has already received applications from a quarter as many prospective members as it planned to sign up in the whole of 2014.
Solicitors put on phishing alert over bogus SRA e-mail, as new cash converter scam also emerges
Solicitors have been warned about a new e-mail ‘phishing’ scam containing a computer virus that is targeted at the profession and purportedly sent by the SRA. Meanwhile, the regulator has reported a new scam involving cash converter type stores.
Impact of recession continues to dominate FDs’ views of the future for big firms
A survey of top-100 law firm finance directors has shown the consequences of the recent economic downturn continue to dominate predictions for the future, with regulatory and compliance work forecast to grow fastest and public sector work set to contract the most.
Court of Appeal puts law firm in the dock after being duped in mortgage fraud
The Court of Appeal has overturned a ruling which excused from liability a law firm which was duped into releasing £150,000 of mortgage funds. It found that the failings of the firm involved in departing from usual conveyancing practice were unreasonable.
Leading conveyancing firm buys fellow ABS
Countrywide Conveyancing Services – an alternative business structure (ABS) that is one of the country’s largest conveyancing outfits – has issued a statement of its intent to grow by buying another leading property law firm.
Firms urged to go beynd PEP and adopt quality and risk performance measures
Large law firms need to embrace new ways to measure firm and partner performance as traditional methods – such as profits per equity partner – “can be irrelevant, encourage inappropriate behaviours, discourage innovation and tend to be short term in focus”, a leading law firm consultant has advised.
HMRC to press ahead with LLP tax changes on 6 April but offers some concessions
Controversial changes to the taxation of LLPs will go ahead on 6 April, HM Revenue & Customs announced late last week, but has made some small concessions in response to the concerns of lawyers and others – including giving more time to contribute capital.
CLC targets wider brief as property sector regulator
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers wants the power to regulate lawyers other than licensed conveyancers, as part of a strategy targeted at expanding its role within the property sector.
Lender panel data scheme heads for launch despite solicitors’ worries
A privately run portal that will centralise conveyancing panel member firms’ information on behalf of participating mortgage lenders, is gearing up for launch amid controversy fuelled by Law Society reservations about the scheme.
Blog
Small steps, big impact: how SME law firms are making legal tech work
For SME law firms, the priority is turning the potential of tech into measurable impact: success is driven not just by the technology, but by how firms approach planning and implementation.
Why housing disrepair claims against councils have leapt by nearly 400%
Housing disrepair claims against councils have surged dramatically in recent years, with some areas reporting increases approaching a staggering 400%.
Client accounts: Opportunity, obligation and the risks in between
The profitability gap between well-run firms and the rest is not primarily a function of size, location or practice area – it is a function of financial management.
