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The Bar Standards Board effectively killed the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) today – six years after it was meant to come into force – by saying it was pulling out to go in a different direction to assure the quality of criminal advocates. QASA was originally meant to start in December 2011.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has criticised both the Solicitors Regulation Authority and two former directors of a Preston law firm for their “careless and disrespectful approach” in applying for approval of an ‘agreed outcome’ only a day before their hearing. The pair were accused of multiple accounts rules breaches and also allowing non-solicitors to control the firm.

The lack of young barristers is now so acute that it could spell the end of a “sustainable, separate profession”, the incoming chairman of the Bar has warned. Andrew Walker QC said: “To put it bluntly, we are recruiting and retaining ever fewer new tenants, and have been for over a decade, and the Bar is steadily growing older.”

The strength of the UK’s regional legal centres has been highlighted in a report of the state of legal services by TheCityUK, which gave an overview of the sector outside the capital for the first time. The lobby group’s annual legal services report also highlighted London’s role as the leading centre globally for international arbitration.

Gordon Dadds expects to complete at least two acquisitions in the coming months, its chief executive said today on the back of strong financial figures, the first published results since the firm floated on AIM in August. Revenue increased 14.5% to £12.9m for the six months to 30 September, with operating profits up 44% to £3.5m.

Keystone Law made its debut on the London Stock Exchange yesterday and saw its share price jump 20% in the first day of trading. Meanwhile, the UK’s first listed law firm, Gateley, issued a strong trading update, with revenues up 10% over the first six months of the current financial year.

The head of a Bradford law firm has been struck off after being convicted of conspiracy to defraud the Legal Aid Agency and also failing to supervise an unpaid junior member of staff who is suspected of producing fraudulent decree absolutes – and whose surname nobody at the firm can remember.

The government has emphasised its intention to introduce a ban on cold-calling by adding it to the long title of the parliamentary bill that will bring the ban about. The news comes as the bill has been amended to cap at 20% the fees CMCs and lawyers can charge consumers for claims management services in relation to PPI claims.

The last financial year has continued a return to profitability for many small and mid-sized firms, although cash is tight as lock-up has increased, according to an analysis of the accounts of more than 100 law firms of up to 30 partners.

The recent Supreme Court ruling that changed the test of dishonesty could cause delays and more hearings at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, its chief executive has warned. The prediction came as the tribunal’s 2018 budget of £2.8m – a fall of 2.5% on the current year – was ratified by the Legal Services Board.