Latest news
Law Society backs SRA “raid” on compensation fund but calls for alternatives to intervention
The Solicitors Regulation Authority needs to consider alternatives to intervening in failing law firms, the Law Society has said, while accepting the “emergency” need for the regulator to dip into the Compensation Fund to pay for the unexpectedly high cost of interventions this year.
Seldon loses for the last time as forced partnership retirement case ends
The case of the law firm partner required to retire at 65 has finally reached an end after an employment tribunal rejected the age discrimination claim brought by Leslie Seldon against Kent firm Clarkson Wright & Jakes.
Survey: shopping around works for legal consumers, but too few do it
The minority of consumers who shop around for legal services are likely to be more satisfied by the service they receive from their chosen provider, new research has found. The findings on how consumers choose lawyers are likely to give encouragement to high street lawyers.
LSB warns Bar regulator that it has big hurdles to jump to regulate ABSs
The Bar Standards Board will be unable to regulate alternative business structures effectively until it learns more about users of barristers’ services and undergoes “significant cultural change”, according to the Legal Services Board.
Wealth management company receives ABS green light
An alternative business structure (ABS) that aims to offer fixed-price legal services to the sports and media star clients of a wealth management group, is poised to open its doors. BlackStar Legal is associated with BlackStar Group.
Newest ABS urges small firms to consider succession planning benefits
Small firms should consider the benefits of alternative business structure (ABS) status as a way to handle succession planning, the senior partner of one of the latest licensees has said. “ABS means we can end our practising certificates and still own the firm,” he explained.
Cost of barrister regulation soars
The Bar Standards Board is already projecting a £161,000 overspend on its 2013-14 budget, which itself is £1.2m (or 30%) higher than the previous 12 months, Legal Futures can report. But it is also expecting QASA to boost income.
LawStore targets businesses with mix of legal and non-legal services
LawStore – the consumer-facing brand developed by regional law firm and alternative business structure MTA Solicitors – will next week launch into the business market, while further high street shops are also planned, Legal Futures can reveal.
BSB decision to stop former chief constable self-funding pupillage upheld
A barristers’ chambers which offered an unfunded pupillage to a former police chief constable has lost its appeal against a Bar Standards Board decision that the move ran foul of equality rules designed to stop ‘rich kids’ from self-funding.
Exclusive: law firms push out CMCs as referral fee ban reshapes PI search market
The abolition of referral fees is “dramatically reshaping” the online personal injury (PI) market, with legal brands pushing out claims management companies, according to major new research seen exclusively by Legal Futures.
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.
