Latest news
Consumer panel concern over struck-off solicitors acting as McKenzie Friends
Struck-off solicitors are acting as McKenzie Friends, raising ethical concerns and providing a service that gives no recourse to the Legal Ombudsman, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has warned as it highlighted issues around the unbundling of legal services that it is set to investigate.
LSB approves new approach to qualifying as a chartered legal executive
A new outcomes-focused approach to becoming a chartered legal executive, which could also cut the time it takes to qualify by reducing the ‘time served’ aspect of the process, has been approved by the Legal Services Board.
Regulation weighing down otherwise confident small firms, says survey
Small practices and sole practitioners are upbeat about their profession and confident in the future, but also burdened by regulation and concerned about winning new business, new research has found.
QASA boycott moves closer after two more circuits vote in favour
The prospect of barristers striking over the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) has moved closer after two more circuits voted to support it. However, the Bar Standards Board has hit back at claims that QASA is linked to price competitive tendering.
Government puts ABSs to the fore as legal aid reform forces market consolidation
The role of alternative business structures (ABSs) in helping law firms and others bid for new legal aid ‘super-contracts’ in criminal work was highlighted by the government yesterday as part of radical plans to slash the number of providers by three-quarters.
Revealed: the first accountancy firm to form an ABS
The first accountancy firm to be granted an alternative business structure (ABS) licence has said it won’t “shoot itself in the foot” by entering the legal market – just yet. Price Bailey has created a legal services business which has been given approval by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Exclusive: NewLaw launches second joint venture ABS with fleet management company
Cardiff firm NewLaw Solicitors has secured its second joint venture alternative business structure (ABS) in a week after teaming up with fleet management company FMG, Legal Futures can reveal. It follows on from its deal with insurer Ageas.
Indemnity premiums fell last year but Law Society warns firms over unrated insurers
Two-thirds of law firms saw their professional indemnity insurance premiums go down last year, with switching insurers the most common way of securing it, Law Society figures have revealed. The society has also warned that under-pressure small firms are risking their future by going with unrated providers.
Here comes Elephant Law as Admiral unveils two joint venture ABSs
Admiral Group’s long-awaited legal services strategy was unveiled on Friday after it announced separate joint venture alternative business structures (ABSs) with national firm Lyons Davidson and Cardiff-based Cordner Lewis.
Sharp fall in number of CMCs as government confirms tough new conduct rules
There was a sharp increase in the number of claims management companies closing down in the first three months of 2013 ahead of the referral fee ban coming into force, Legal Futures can report. The news comes as the government announces a tightening of CMCs’ conduct rules.
Blog
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
Law firms need to go beyond document checks
At the root of every failed compliance review is a familiar phrase: a calm assertion of “but we did a document check”.
