Latest news
Join them to beat them: Law Society urges firms to use ABS to compete with accountants
Rather than feeling threatened by accountants’ move into legal services, law firms should set up alternative business structures (ABS) and compete with them, the president of the Law Society has said. Jonathan Smithers said: “The success of ABS to date indicates that clients are generally not concerned about sourcing their legal services from non-lawyers.”
SRA: clients may not need “detailed information” where work is referred to firms’ separate businesses
Clients may not need detailed information about separate businesses when work is referred to them by their law firm owners, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said. The Legal Services Consumer Panel has warned that the new separate business rule could leave consumers in the dark.
Insisting on a 2:1 degree for barristers “could discriminate against BAME students”
Insisting on an upper second class degree for future barristers could impose a “discriminatory burden” on BAME students, who are less likely to obtain them, a leading academic has argued in response to a Bar Standards Board consultation that raises the possibility.
Free2Convey to be available “in next few weeks”
Free2Convey, the free conveyancing portal developed by the Legal Software Suppliers Association, is to be available “in the next few weeks”, it has emerged. Julian Bryan, managing partner of Quill Pinpoint, said it would be ready before Veyo.
Now Office for Legal Complaints tells MPs: former chief ombudsman WAS dismissed
Former Chief Legal Ombudsman Adam Sampson was dismissed with notice from his post, the Office for Legal Complaints has now said – having previously indicated that he was not. However, Mr Sampson is maintaining his position that he resigned and served out his six-month notice period.
ICAEW’s alternative business structure licences hit 100
The number of alternative business structures licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has hit 100, it has emerged. A further 47 firms have been authorised to provide probate services.
Advertising regulator upholds complaint over law firm’s website claim – and then finds out it’s closed
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint over a law firm’s claim that its ‘no win, no fee’ clients would receive all of their damages. However, it emerged after the ASA made its finding that the firm, London practice Lorrells, had closed down.
Former City solicitor to take charge at Legal Services Board
A former City solicitor has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Legal Services Board – the first lawyer to hold the post. Neil Buckley, who spent eight years at Sinclair Roche & Temperley (now part of Stephenson Harwood), joins in January from Ofcom.
Separate business rule reform could leave consumers “in the dark”
Solicitors who refer consumers to their unregulated businesses under the revised separate business rule may obtain consent to do so, but there is a serious risk that it will not be informed, a member of the Legal Services Consumer Panel has warned.
Getting different generations working together is key to law firm success, research says
Law firms are failing to unify the different generations within their workforces and are suffering as a result, research has suggested. It said there need to be formal programmes within firms that get the different generations talking and working together.
Blog
Accountability has to live within governance, not with one person
The assumption has long been that a COLP or COFA is personally exposed to the consequences of anti-money laundering breaches.
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
