Latest news
Number of private practice solicitors falls for first time as Law Society warns of ABS threat
The number of qualified solicitors in private practice fell last year for the first time since records began. A new legal service market assessment by the Law Society also warned that that a small number of successful ABSs could radically reshape the market for high street legal services.
Government backs Level 4 apprenticeships to offer new route into law
A new route into the legal profession is launched today in a bid to improve access and diversity in the law. The Level Four Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services is designed to help firms recruit a new breed of talented paralegals who could in time become chartered legal executives.
Family office for wealthy Russians joins ABS ranks
A company that specialises in helping wealthy business people from Russia and Eastern Europe relocate to London has acquired an alternative business structure licence in order to add legal services to its business services portfolio.
SRA approach to referral fee ban receives LSB green light
The Legal Services Board yesterday put the seal of approval on the SRA’s plans to regulate the referral fee ban. The news came as the Law Society pressed the LSB to provide reassurance that the way referral fees are regulated will be consistent across the entire legal profession.
Bar Council and Law Society call unexpected truce over standard terms dispute
The Law Society and Bar Council have called a truce over the Bar’s new standard terms of business and agreed to talk through their differences – some five years after leaving the negotiating table.
Liverpool firm launches “branded fightback” to ABSs with not-for-profit eLawyers scheme
A personal injury law firm has launched a co-operative group marketing scheme based on a TV advertising campaign potentially worth up to £2m. eLawyers aims to build regional panels of firms who will receive exclusive leads by area of legal specialism.
Firms unveil services to get closer to insurers as April reforms loom
Two law firms have made significant moves to align themselves with the insurance sector as the end of referral fees edges closer. Goldsmith Williams and Plexus Law have announced product launches as the race to be ready for the civil justice reforms gathers pace.
Law Society set for conflict with in-house lawyers and sole practitioners, as ‘City conference’ faces axe
Groups representing lawyers in both local government and industry, as well as sole practitioners, face losing their representation on the Law Society’s ruling council, Legal Futures can reveal. We can also report that a conference to engage City lawyers is set to be shelved.
SRA hits out at LSB approach to regulation and ABS licensing
The Legal Services Board has overstepped its bounds, distorted the Legal Services Act’s regulatory balance, aligned itself too closely with the government, and intervened in matters beyond its competence, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has charged.
Leading City firms get NOTICED with diversity initiative launch
An inter-firm diversity initiative is being launched this month to make the legal sector more accessible to lawyers from multi-cultural backgrounds. A number of City firms are already on board with the NOTICED (Networking Opportunities to Integrate, Celebrate and Educate on Diversity) scheme.
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”.
