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Legal Futures Editor Neil Rose recently edited ‘Legal Efficiency’, a supplement published by The Times covering a range of key issues facing the profession as it moves into a new era. This is his article on the likely implications of alternative business structures
BSB fires warning shot over SRA regulation
The Bar Standards Board has fired a warning shot across the bows of its solicitor counterpart, warning that “there will be instances where outcomes-based regulation is likely to be inadequate on its own, even if supplemented by guidance”.
Scottish solicitors narrowly back ABSs
The row about introducing alternative business structures in Scotland took a fresh turn this week after members of the Law Society of Scotland voted very narrowly to support the current policy in favour of them.
Barrister named partner in LDP
Nicole Curtis has become one of the first barristers to become a partner in a legal disciplinary practice (LDP) after being made up by Penningtons. There are now 186 LDPs, which between them have 210 partners – 83 non-solicitor lawyers and 127 non-lawyers
Tories pledge early action to consolidate client accounts to earn interest for legal aid
The Conservatives will move quickly if elected to consult on plans to consolidate all solicitor client accounts in one place and apply the interest that accrues to the legal aid fund, Legal Futures can reveal.
Revealed: LSB’s contingency plan to regulate ABSs directly
The Legal Services Board is making contingency plans to regulate alternative business structures itself if none of the current approved regulators are up to the task, it has emerged. The LSB’s 2010/11 business plan, published today, says that it will scope out the requirements for direct licensing during the summer.
Conflict over burden of proof delays SRA’s new powers to fine and rebuke solicitors
The Legal Services Board has delayed a decision on whether the civil standard of proof should apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s new powers to publicly rebuke and fine solicitors because of concerns raised by the Law Society and Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
LSB approves SRA’s new transfer scheme
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has overcome a raft of concerns from the Legal Services Board to win approval for the new Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme. Some 26% of new solicitors in 2009 were either former barristers or international lawyers.
LSB tells bar regulator to up its game
The Legal Services Board has told barristers’ regulator that it will need to up its game – and perhaps embrace outcomes-focused regulation – to keep pace with liberalisation of the bar. “We expect that the BSB will invest in its skills and regulatory capacity,” it said.
Consumer chief calls for lawyers’ competence to be tested every five years
Lawyers should undergo five-yearly competence testing, as well as face peer review of the advice they provide clients, the chairwoman of the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said.
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
