Latest news
Legal Services Board “fears legal challenge” over Legal Ombudsman compromise
The Legal Services Board fears a successful legal challenge should it accept the compromise aimed at resolving the impasse over moving the handling of complaints about claims management companies to the Legal Ombudsman, Legal Futures has learned.
Future of cab-rank rule still in question despite approval of new code of conduct for barristers
The future of the cab-rank rule is still up for debate despite approval of the new Bar Standards Board code of conduct, which includes it, the Legal Services Board has warned. The BSB is also set to raise the issue of a cab-rank rule for solicitors, it has emerged.
Revealed: Legal Ombudsman puts 10% of staff at risk of redundancy
The Legal Ombudsman has put around 10% of its staff at risk of redundancy as it undertakes a restructuring brought about by receiving fewer complaints than expected. It has been exacerbated by difficulties in transferring over the handling of complaints about CMCs.
Barristers join the revolution after receiving green light to conduct litigation
Barristers will be allowed to conduct litigation and form associations with non-barristers after the Legal Services Board approved the new Bar Standards Board code of conduct. The revolution will begin in January 2014.
Exclusive: US website that aims to create a ‘legal ecosystem’ targets UK
A new ‘find a lawyer’ service just launched in America has designs on coming to the UK next year, Legal Futures can reveal. The long-term goal of LawVisors is to be a “legal ecosystem” for lawyers and clients alike.
Plant lays out agenda after receiving extra year at helm of SRA
Charles Plant, chairman of the board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has been re-appointed for a further year, it was announced yesterday. His term of office will now expire on 31 December 2014, when he will have led the board for five years.
BSB complaints regime: thumbs up from barristers, thumbs down from complainants
There is a “disappointing and inexplicable” widening of the gap between the views of barristers and complainants when dealing with the Bar Standards Board complaints procedures. The barristers’ regulator has gone backwards in the public’s perception.
CMCs’ turnover tops £1bn as referral fee ban prompts mass exodus from personal injury
The turnover of claims management companies spiralled 31% last year to top £1bn, with the turnover for the financial claims sector exceeding that of personal injury companies for the first time, Ministry of Justice figures have shown.
SRA to ditch reporting requirement for non-material rule breaches
The requirement on law firms to report non-material breaches to the Solicitors Regulation Authority is set to be ditched in time for this year’s annual information submission. The board of the SRA will tomorrow be asked to approve changes to the SRA Handbook.
Under-pressure firms find merger salvation
The Jackson reforms, legal aid changes and stagnant corporate work drove a record year in law firm mergers during 2012, according to new research. Strategic mergers could help convince creditors that solicitors remain a good credit risk, it also suggested.
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.
