Latest news
The City freelancers
So-called virtual law firms are increasing in number and profile as lawyers look for other ways to practice. But their model may not suit big-hitting City lawyers who need greater support and status. However, says Mike Jones of Intrinsic Values, there is a new alternative that benefits both solicitors and firms
PC fee to fall 60% to £460
The individual practising certificate fee is set to be cut by more than 60% after the Solicitors Regulation Authority board approved a new fees policy last week.
MSPs back will-writer regulation and compensation fund for ABSs
The Law Society of Scotland has welcomed MSPs’ decision to regulate non-lawyer will-writers and to give clients access to compensation in the event of dishonesty by alternative business structures.
The profession’s salvation?
Many lawyers entered the law to make a difference. Now is their chance, especially at this unique time in the profession’s history, with the Salvation Army set to launch a commercial law firm in Australia, says Scottish solicitor Raymond McLennan. Compulsory pro bono could be the answer.
Barristers slow to join LDPs
There has been a slow move to make up barristers as partners in legal disciplinary practices, Legal Futures can reveal. Figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority indicate that just nine barristers have so far become partners.
Compulsory indemnity insurance under scrutiny in “root and branch” SRA review
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is to carry out a wide-ranging review of financial protection during which the very existence of compulsory insurance for solicitors will be questioned.
Lawyers cut out by consumers not realising their problems are ‘legal’, survey finds
Consumers do not realise that many of the problems they face are ‘legal’ and so do not consider approaching a lawyer for help, new research has revealed.
Conveyancers “ill-prepared” to deal with anti-money laundering obligations, says expert
Many conveyancing law firms are ill-prepared to comply with anti-money laundering obligations despite property being the number one target of criminals seeking to invest the proceeds of crime, a leading expert in the field told an AML conference in London last week.
Can you spare a tenner?
This week’s Question of Ethics from the Solicitors Regulation Authority looks at whether a firm can unilaterally dispose of a small amount left in client account.
Criminal barristers need to transform into “litigation units” to survive, says bar chief
The criminal bar needs to transform itself into “fully functioning litigation units” within the next 12 to 24 months if it wants to survive, the chairman of the Bar Council has warned in a paper that sets out his vision for how the bar needs to change to meet the challenges of the Legal Services Act.
Blog
Does the Lloyd review mark the end of the Legal Services Act?
The Legal Services Board often generates eye-rolls and irritation from the leaders of the frontline regulators it oversees and of the representative bodies attached to them.
A familiar story?
There is no doubt that the rising cost of clinical negligence claims deserves attention. However, the system’s true cost driver is often not the claim itself.
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
