Latest news
Hundreds of firms face SRA enforcement action over COLP and COFA failure
Hundreds of law firms that have yet to nominate their compliance officers could soon face enforcement action, the SRA has warned. Separately the SRA is to conduct visits to 100 random law firms to check on their compliance with equality and diversity rules, while more than 10,000 solicitors have registered their intention to join QASA.
Where are the MDPs? Waiting for the accountants to start setting them up
There is so far little evidence that alternative business structures (ABSs) will spawn large numbers of multi-disciplinary practices (MDPs), and those that do are likely to be accountancy led, it was claimed yesterday.
Shoosmiths claims new bereavement service marks it out among law firms
Access Legal, the consumer arm of Shoosmiths, has launched a service to help the recently bereaved that it claims is unique among law firms. The ‘Bereaved Service’ is intended to provide a wide range of advice with no obligation to purchase any services.
Law Society urges SRA to hold the line on independent financial advice
A Solicitors Regulation Authority proposal to scrap the ban on solicitors referring clients to tied financial advisers presents a “disproportionate risk” to both lawyers and clients, the Law Society has argued.
Why external investors are eyeing up the criminal Bar
Unlikely as it may seem, external investors are showing an interest in the criminal Bar. The reason, explains John Binks, is the way Legal Services Commission payments are structured and the £70m of work-in-progress that barristers are now sitting on.
The BSB’s response to failing to meet new complaints-handling KPIs? Change the KPIs
The Bar Standards Board has suggested changing the benchmark for measuring how its complaints investigators are performing – after it failed badly to meet its own key performance indicators.
Parabis chief calls on SRA to keep pace with ABS ambitions and not stymie innovation
The operational end of the Solicitors Regulation Authority needs to keep pace with those at the top of the organisation who “embrace and encourage legal business innovation”, and not stymie the type of development the Legal Services Act is supposed to promote, the head of one of the major ABSs has said.
LSB’s “open debate” on cost of regulation throws spotlight on practising fee split
The possibility of the Law Society and other representative bodies being cut off from any of the money raised by practising fees has been raised by a Legal Services Board call for an “open debate on the cost of regulation”.
Top PI practice becomes latest ABS
A leading personal injury practice has become the latest law firm to obtain an alternative business structure licence as part of its preparations for the impact of the Jackson reforms. Co-founder David Bott is the immediate past president of APIL.
Co-op blanks QualitySolicitors criticism but claims its presence will benefit all lawyers
Co-operative Legal Services has refused to be drawn into a spat with QualitySolicitors over whether so-called ‘supermarket law’ offers an inferior service compared to high street solicitors, instead underlining its appeal to people who normally shun lawyers.
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”.
