Latest news
Lawyers “need to unbundle services” to compete with online providers
Lawyers should offer ‘unbundled’ legal services to the public in order to improve access to the law – and also to compete with online document assembly services like Rocket Lawyer and LegalZoom, the American Bar Association has said.
Legal Services Board presses SRA not to shackle law firms and ABSs delivering non-reserved work
The rule which prevents solicitors and alternative business structures from hiving off non-reserved legal work into unregulated businesses risks making legal services more expensive, distorting competition and preventing innovation, the Legal Services Board has warned.
Law Society warns of “significant risks” if foreign lawyers are passported into partnerships
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s red-tape challenge could introduce “significant risks” if registered foreign lawyers are automatically allowed to become the owners and managers of smaller firms, the Law Society has warned.
SRA eyes quicker ABS application process as interest in MDPs strengthens
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is reviewing its approach to licensing alternative business structures one year on from the start of the regime, with a much speedier process for low-risk entities one of the likely outcomes, Legal Futures can reveal. It has also reported increasing interest in multi-disciplinary practices.
CILEx and CLC confirm bids to become will-writer regulators
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and Council for Licensed Conveyancers have thrown their hats into the ring to regulate will-writers, amid further criticism of the Legal Services Board’s decision not to extend regulation to estate administration.
SRA: evidence contradicts “popular myth” that conveyancing is low-value work
The “popular myth” that conveyancing is low value is not borne out by the evidence, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has found. But property work is continuing to cause the regulator problems, with stamp duty land tax schemes and ‘right to buy’ negligence litigation firmly on its radar.
Court of Appeal: solicitor not liable for fellow partner’s fraud
A lender has lost its appeal against a High Court ruling that said a solicitor was not liable for its loss in a £2.5m mortgage fraud perpetrated by her former partner because she was not aware of the misrepresentations he made.
Mid-Staffs scandal highlights dangers of defensive culture in the law, says consumer chief
A culture of defensiveness among lawyers risks the sort of regulatory failure that occurred in the Mid-Staffordshire Hospital Trust patient neglect scandal – and legal regulators must take heed, the head of the Legal Services Consumer Panel has warned.
LSB formally requests government to regulate will-writing – but not estate administration
The Legal Services Board (LSB) will today formally recommend to the Lord Chancellor that will-writing – but not estate administration – should be regulated legal work. The LSB had initially intended to include estate administration.
Consumers, solicitors and will-writers hit out at LSB decision on estate administration
Consumers, solicitors and will-writers have united to condemn the Legal Services Board’s decision not to recommend to the government that estate administration become a regulated activity. However, chartered accountants have welcomed it.
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”.
