Latest news
The legal textbook publisher that’s now a law firm
Jordans – the business known for company formation services and publishing legal textbooks – now has a corporate law firm after receiving its alternative business structure licence.
NAH teams up with top insurer as PI firm unveils trio of ABSs
Minster Law – the major claimant practice now owned by insurance group BGL – has joined top personal injury marketing business National Accident Helpline (NAH), becoming its largest panel member.
MoJ insists it has “appetite” for legal regulation review
The Ministry of Justice has dismissed suggestions that it is not committed to its review of legal regulation. However, it is not putting a timetable on how quickly it will decide the next steps after reviewing the submissions received.
SRA: Law Society “inadvertently” makes case for independent regulation
The Law Society’s bid to regain responsibility for much of the regulation of solicitors has “inadvertently” made the case for completely independent regulation, a leading figure at the Solicitors Regulation Authority has claimed.
ABS licence allows Devon accountants to add legal service
A firm of accountants in Devon has become only the third to launch a legal arm after winning an alternative business structure licence. Davisons Legal Services began trading last week, with former City lawyer Philip Vickery as its head of legal practice.
In-out, in-out: “there is capacity” say brokers after indemnity insurer hokey-cokey
Professional indemnity insurance brokers have again had to calm fears just three weeks before the renewals deadline, as the unrated insurer Berliner appeared “uncertain” it could cover any solicitors’ risk this year.
QS bids to persuade public to love their lawyer
QualitySolicitors has today launched a new advertising campaign that aims to tackle common preconceptions about lawyers, using the tag line ‘Changing the way you see lawyers’.
LSB lays out vision of radical reform of legal regulation
The Legal Services Board has today published its “blueprint for deregulation”, the culmination of which would be a new single regulator for the legal market that is “organisationally, statutorily and culturally fully independent of both government and representative bodies’ vested interests”.
Consumer panel attacks “staggering” Law Society regulation blueprint
The Law Society’s bid to regain powers from the Solicitors Regulation Authority is “quite staggering”, the chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said – and it has stiffened her resolve to oppose any return to self-regulation.
Criminal barristers seek judicial review of LSB over QASA
A long-awaited judicial review of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) has been launched by criminal law barristers against the Legal Services Board (LSB).
Blog
Divorce escrow: asset sales before final settlement
When significant matrimonial assets are sold before a final financial order is agreed, holding the proceeds safely and neutrally can present real practical challenges.
AML lacks clarity – and standards are suffering
If firms are buckling under the pressure of AML regulations, subject to ever-increasing fines, then something is clearly not working as it should be.
The power of participation for trainees and apprentices
It’s important as a trainee or an apprentice to get involved in the life of your firm – even under the pressure of discovering how to navigate professional life and now the demands of the SQE.
