Latest news
SRA makes bid to free itself from Law Society shackles
It is time for truly independent regulation of the solicitors’ profession to stop attempts by the Law Society to interfere, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has told the government. It also reiterated a call for all legal activities to be brought within the scope of regulation.
Information Commissioner to probe law firms that used rogue private investigators
Law firms which used rogue private investigators are now facing an investigation into whether they breached the Data Protection Act, the Information Commissioner’s Office has announced. There are said to be 22 law firms involved.
Time for a single regulator and code of conduct? Consumer panel calls for the nuclear option
A single regulator for all legal services providers and a single code of conduct is the way forward for the market, the Legal Services Consumer Panel argued today. It essentially recommended tearing up the Legal Services Act 2007 and starting again.
Third of law firms under financial pressure, says Company Watch
A third of law firms are under financial pressure and may require refinancing or an injection of capital, new research has found. Financial health specialist Company Watch said that 898 of the 2,600 firms it investigated were in trouble.
Leading ABSs take next steps forward
Slater & Gordon has now formally acquired personal injury firm Goodmans, giving the alternative business structure (ABS) a Liverpool base for the first time. Meanwhile, Co-operative Legal Services has launched its academy to offer career progression to all staff.
Law Society enters PII market for small firms
With just a month to go before solicitors have to renew their professional indemnity insurance (PII), the Law Society has today launched its much-anticipated offering for firms of one to four partners that cuts out brokers.
Admiral takes £15m referral fee hit
The ban on referral fees in personal injury is set to cost Admiral Insurance around £15m this year, it emerged yesterday. The insurer also said its two new ABS joint ventures are “not expected to make a material contribution to group profits in the foreseeable future”.
Rescue for Challinors subsidiary
Thomas Solicitors – which was bought by failed law firm Challinors three years ago – has been acquired by East Midlands practice Hawley & Rodgers. The firm has continued to trade profitably despite its parent company’s financial difficulties.
CMCs in the dock over cold-calling and shoddy work
Citizens Advice has hit out at claims management companies for cold-calling and the way they then handle payment protection insurance mis-selling cases. Two-thirds of adults – equivalent to 32m people in the UK – say they have been cold-called over PPI, its research claims.
Co-op undeterred despite £3.4m loss by legal services business
Co-operative Legal Services has revealed losses of £3.4m for the first half of 2013, which its parent group said reflected “the start-up nature of the business”. But The Co-operative Group affirmed its intention to “continue with our plans to develop this growing business”.
Blog
Which legal AI will still matter in 12 months?
Four years ago, when senior partners asked me which legal AI they should buy, I would have walked them through a vendor comparison. Now I tell them the question is wrong.
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.
