Latest news
SRA: 30 ABS applicants in formal decision phase; further 130 working through plans
Around 25-30 would-be alternative business structures have formally completed their applications and are now being considered for licences – with decisions on a few “quite imminent” – the Solicitors Regulation Authority has revealed.
Version 4 of Handbook goes live as SRA promises no further COLP/COFA delay
The fourth edition of the SRA Handbook in less than 10 months was published yesterday. It includes the delay in the introduction of the compliance officer regime, and the SRA has guaranteed that there will be no further hold-ups.
Exclusive: Law Society begins work on creating solicitor comparison website
The Law Society is investigating whether to launch its own solicitor comparison website, Legal Futures can reveal. There is an internal debate going on as to whether this would enable comparison on price as well as other factors.
Trainees “happy with LPC” but law students want more work experience, says survey
Most trainee solicitors think that the legal practice course has prepared them for legal practice, a new survey has shown. The results arguably run contrary to the sentiments coming out of the ongoing Legal Education and Training Review.
SDT throws out case against solicitor over SRA abuse of process
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has taken the highly unusual step of throwing out proceedings taken against a solicitor, finding that the actions of the Solicitors Regulation Authority constituted an abuse of process.
Edmonds: LSB is interventionist and proud of it
The role of the Legal Services Board is to get involved and intervene – not to sit, watch and react – its chairman said yesterday, hitting back at critics of its activism. David Edmonds said the phrase “oversight regulator” does not appear in the Legal Services Act.
Three-quarters of people have received CMC ‘pest texts’, says research
Three in four people have received an unsolicited text or phone call from a claims management company offering them the chance to claim compensation, even though almost all had no grounds to bring a claim, according to research.
LSB calls on profession to engage with comparison websites and “will consider” accrediting them
The Legal Services Board has urged regulators and professional bodies to engage with comparison websites for the benefit of consumers, including providing access to their registers, Legal Futures can reveal.
Co-op accuses solicitors of hiding conveyancing charges in small print
Co-operative Legal Services has accused some solicitors of hiding extra charges in the small print of their quotes. The warning to consumers is the first sign of an aggressive push now it has its ABS licence.
ABSs stimulating a surge in the Anglo-Scottish urge to merge, say experts
The recent spate of Anglo-Scottish mergers will not be the last as Scotland gears up for its own alternative business structure regime going live, it has been predicted. There has been a “surge in M&A activity in the Scottish legal market”.
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.
