Latest news
Reed Smith thinks big by signing up to major work experience initiative
US/UK law firm Reed Smith becomes first legal practice to sign up to a major initiative aimed at opening up access to work experience opportunities to anyone with an Internet connection. The firm has joined the likes of ITN, Capgemini, MediaCom, ZenithMedia, Channel 4 and Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen.
Last-ditch bid to delay QASA rejected as Deech argues for necessity of scheme
A last-minute Law Society bid to delay the controversial Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) until after the government’s consultation on price competitive tendering for criminal work was yesterday rejected by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
“Pointless” consultation to set out SRA plan to pay soaring intervention costs from compensation fund
Solicitors Regulation Authority plans to consult on whether the cost of interventions in failing law firms should be borne by the Compensation Fund have been queried as pointless because there is no realistic alternative.
New duty to support growth should not allow regulators to block “risky business models”
A proposed statutory duty on frontline regulators to consider economic growth must not be used to probe the business plans of new entrants to the market or block “risky business models”, the Legal Services Board has cautioned.
SRA survey: quarter of lawyers were privately educated
The inaugural diversity survey of people working in solicitors’ firms has found that more than a quarter of lawyers went to fee-paying schools – nearly four times the national average. Meanwhile, a review of law firms’ approach to diversity has found clients pushing the agenda.
‘Click and collect’ law firm eyes major expansion after ABS licence award
A law firm offering ‘click and collect’ legal services plans to double in size after securing its alternative business structure licence. Leeds firm Winston Solicitors originated as an online-only legal practice from managing partner Jonathan Winston’s spare room 10 years ago.
SRA set to relax rules on non-material breaches as nearly 1,000 firms face COLP/COFA action
Requiring all 10,000 law firms to report non-material breaches to the Solicitors Regulation Authority is “unsustainable and cannot be justified”, the regulator’s board will be told today. Meanwhile, the number of firms and individuals facing action over COLP/COFA nomination failures has risen to 928.
Dynamo Legal launches collective marketing brand with eye on £7m marketing warchest
A new collective marketing brand called Dynamo Legal has today announced plans to recruit 245 law firms across England and Wales and build a £7m advertising warchest. It is the brainchild of Welsh businessman Alexander Mills, who previously founded a company selling slate signs.
Co-op goes face-to-face with nationwide family legal aid service
Co-operative Legal Services has today made its major move into family law services by unveiling a telephone advice service for those people still able to claim legal aid help and a network of 78 face-to-face locations across England and Wales.
Mortimer takes helm at legal expenses insurer's ABS
Kathryn Mortimer, head of legal services for the DAS UK Group, has been named managing director of its new law firm, DAS Law. DAS Law was created after the legal expenses insurer was granted an alternative business structure licence.
Blog
When AI becomes a line on the client’s bill
On 23 June, Legora changed how it charges. The platform announced that its most capable product was moving away from a flat per-seat licence fee to consumption-based pricing
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.
