Legal Services Board
Legal regulators face having to appoint ‘small business appeals champions’
The Legal Services Board has told the government that if it wants to appoint ‘small business appeals champions’ for legal services, it should appoint them to the boards of the eight front-line regulators rather than the super-regulator.
Kenny: Don’t give up on a single regulator – it will happen
Chris Kenny, chief executive of the Legal Services Board, has said that the government is “not saying never” to the idea of a single regulator for the entire profession, and it was likely to happen anyway in the coming years.
Legal Services Board calls in Mayson
Leading market commentator Professor Stephen Mayson is to begin working with the Legal Services Board, it has been announced. He is to work with the oversight regulator on its 2015-2018 strategic plan and planned project on the cost of regulation.
LSB to put heat under approved regulators over how they spend practising fees
The Legal Services Board is to tell the approved regulators that they must consult those they regulate about setting the level of practising fees beyond what is needed simply for regulation, it has emerged.
Law Society loses control of SRA chair and board appointments
Control over the appointment of the next chairman of the Solicitors Regulation Authority was taken away from the Law Society yesterday after the Legal Services Board introduced new rules governing the process.
Edmonds signs off with final attack on Law Society and Bar Council “trade unions”
The outgoing chairman of the Legal Services Board has fired a parting shot at the Law Society and Bar Council – which he described as “two very strong trade unions” – for their “hostile attitude to change” and acting out of self-interest, rather than in the public interest.
QASA registration timetable thrown up in air by continuing JR
The timetable for advocates to register for the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates has been thrown into chaos as a result of the continuing judicial review of its legality. Meanwhile, the Bar Standards Board has begun the search for a new chair.
LSB reviews hurdles faced by non-lawyers who want to own ABSs
Plans to simplify the approval process for non-lawyer owners of alternative business structures are being considered by the Legal Services Board, it has emerged. Private equity purchasers are proving particularly tricky under the current regime.
From ABS to LSB – BT lawyer appointed to oversight regulator
A senior lawyer at telecoms giant BT – which owns an alternative business structure – has become the newest member of the Legal Services Board. David Eveleigh has been joined on the board by Marina Gibbs, the director of competition policy at Ofcom.
Regulators pledge data for comparison sites, as panel goes undercover to investigate web advice
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has conducted a ‘mystery shopping’ exercise to assess consumers’ experience of online self-help tools for a divorce. Meanwhile, work by the panel to open up data held by regulators to be used by legal comparison websites took a major step forward.
Blog
Why this is the year for law firms to embrace generative AI
After more than a year of pilots, proofs of value and early experimentation, firms are increasingly embedding AI into day-to-day workflows.
Client account interest is not spare change
The proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts scheme is being framed as a sensible, international, “tried and tested” way for the profession to help fund a justice system under strain.
The formula for finance-enabled business development
Client concentration or over-dependence now counts as a top strategic risk for 26% of firms. Cross-selling is an antidote – a way to bolster revenue resilience without relying on client acquisition.
