Latest news
First the Ashes, now the solicitors’ PII market – Aussie insurer grabs biggest share
QBE has taken over as the leading insurer of solicitors, figures released yesterday by the Solicitors Regulation Authority have revealed. Between QBE Insurance (Europe) Ltd and two Lloyd’s syndicates, the Australian-based insurer secured 18.2% of the premiums paid.
Law firm’s online legal document service bids to take on US-based giants
An English law firm yesterday launched a home-grown online documents service that it claimed is the first product with the potential to rival those from the US legal document processing giants Rocket Lawyer and Legal Zoom.
High Court slams council for “act of retaliation” against PI law firm which sued it
A local authority’s refusal to offer a law firm tenant a new lease was “an act of retaliation, pure and simple”, to punish the firm for bringing personal injury claims against it, the High Court found last week.
QASA registration dates extended again, but delay to wait for Jeffrey review ruled out
The first registration deadline for the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) has been extended again, the Joint Advocacy Group announced today. However, it will not be delaying the scheme to await the outcome of the Jeffrey review of criminal advocacy.
Solicitors warned over “harsh” impact of impending LLP tax changes
The effects of the planned changes to the taxation of LLPs will be “far harsher than originally expected” and could put a significant strain on finances come April, solicitors have been warned.
Treasury tells HMRC to place greater focus on partnerships
Partnerships are “very much the poor relation” in the way they are handled by HM Revenue & Customs and indeed regarded by government”, a major Treasury review has found, with many feeling that HMRC sees them “as if they were exclusively avoidance vehicles”.
Attorney General “warned LSB about regulatory creep” but indicates no roll-back of Clementi
The Attorney General has warned about the “danger” of regulators micro-managing the legal profession, but also indicated that the government is unlikely to roll back the Clementi reforms that led to the creation of independent regulators.
SRA interventions loom for firms practising without insurance
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has revealed that around 10 firms have failed to close after failing to secure professional indemnity insurance and are heading for intervention, as the fallout resulting from last year’s renewal season enters its final phase.
Ombudsman gives lawyers economic incentive to improve complaints handling: increased profits
The Legal Ombudsman today appealed to solicitors’ bottom line to persuade them to take complaints more seriously, saying that law firms and other providers could increase their profits by up to 3% if they do.
SRA, BSB and other regulators join forces to demystify the law for consumers
The frontline legal regulators yesterday launched a groundbreaking consumer-facing information website that aims to demystify the legal profession for ordinary people.
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.
