Latest news
High Court rejects challenge to BSB disciplinary tribunals
A High Court judgment that refused three applications for judicial review of barristers’ disciplinary decisions is to be appealed, after the court found that anomalies in tribunal panel member appointments did not affect the validity of the findings.
Grayling: we intend to do a lot on deregulation
The Lord Chancellor has given his strongest hint yet that the government is preparing for a major overhaul of the regulatory regime for lawyers. Chris Grayling also noted that there is no shortage of law firms in England and Wales.
Mayson attacks market in “spurious claims” and urges focus on value
Lawyers have lost sight of their true purpose and legal practice should focus less on “spurious” claims and more on providing clients with valuable outcomes, Professor Stephen Mayson has urged. Reconnecting the purpose of law and lawyers is “essential to enabling a meaningful and worthwhile future for law”, he warned.
Criminal firms will collapse, not consolidate, if legal aid cuts are too fast, government warned
If criminal legal aid solicitors were given more time to put their house in order before the government slashed fees, there would be a greater chance of consolidation in the market to mitigate the cuts, the Ministry of Justice has been told.
SRA to strip away restrictions on qualifying as a solicitor
Would-be solicitors may be able to design their own routes to qualification – which need not involve a degree, legal practice course or training contract – under a blueprint for radical reform of education and training published today by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Personal injury firms escape indemnity renewal relatively unscathed, survey finds
The vast majority of personal injury law firms appear to have renewed their indemnity insurance on acceptable terms despite the instability in the sector, according to a survey of nearly 500 law firms conducted last week.
Circuits club together to back QASA judicial review
The circuits have come together with the Criminal Bar Association to indemnity the four barristers bringing a judicial review against the Legal Services Board over the legality of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates.
Grayling: legal market needs to be more diverse and innovative
The new chairman of the Legal Services Board (LSB) needs to help develop “a more diverse and innovative legal services market that attracts new providers”, justice secretary Chris Grayling has said. The search for a new chairman of the LSB began last week.
Firm broken up after failing to secure indemnity insurance
Harris Cartier – a 26-lawyer niche litigation and corporate practice with offices in London and Slough – has become the first firm to be placed into administration following the failure to arrange professional indemnity insurance for 1 October.
Comparison site aims exclusively at SME market
A comparison website claiming to be the first UK service dedicated to matching businesses to lawyers has been launched, and includes customer ratings at the end of every engagement.
Blog
Supreme Court redraws line between member and employee in LLPs
For anyone advising professional services firms on LLP structuring, and of course for those in LLPs themselves, last week’s Supreme Court ruling is an essential read.
Charting a new course for publicly funded legal services
The current Legal Aid Agency model is inherently flawed and it goes beyond mere data breaches – it cannot innovatively respond to increasing challenges.
Preparing people for the pace of technological change
While technology often dominates the conversation, I believe the most important challenge facing law firms is not adopting new tools – it is preparing people to adapt alongside them.
