Legal Services Board
LSB’s lay chair plan “aims to bring regulators into line”, says Bar Council
The Legal Services Board wants to impose lay chairs on the frontline regulators so that they will “do more of what [it] wants”, the Bar Council has claimed. The Bar Standards Board and Law Society have also come out strongly against the proposal.
Consumer panel throws weight behind compulsory lay chairs plan
The Legal Services Board’s consumer body has come out strongly in favour of making it compulsory that the chairs of the frontline regulators are not drawn from the profession, saying it would help counter conservatism in liberalising the legal market.
SRA tells LSB: no need for lay chair requirement
Legal Services Board should be focusing on the way the chairs of the frontline regulators are appointed, not on ensuring they are non-lawyers, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said.
MDPs “struggling” to make it through ABS licensing process
The process of approving alternative business structures seems to be weighted against multi-disciplinary practices and business services firms, it has been claimed. The Legal Services Board also expressed concern over the impact on ABS licensing of senior departures from the SRA.
McGowan: LSB treats us like naughty children
The Legal Services Board has put obstacles in the way of lawyers trying to practise “well and honestly” rather than improving standards, the chairman of the Bar Council told barristers on Saturday.
QASA claimants lose bid to cut costs exposure
he barristers seeking to have the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) declared unlawful have lost a bid to reduce their costs exposure. Mr Justice Bean refused to amend the protective costs order granted earlier this month by Mr Justice Ouseley.
Row brews over Legal Services Board’s lay chairs proposal
Discontent is building among the frontline regulators over a Legal Services Board proposal that they should change their internal governance rules to require the chairs of regulatory boards to be lay and not legal professionals.
LSB gives green light to work on radical shake-up of financial protection arrangements
The possibility of clients buying ‘top-up’ cover to fill the gaps in compulsory professional indemnity insurance has been floated by the Legal Services Board as it set the scene for a significant shake-up of current financial protection arrangements.
Law Society intervenes in QASA judicial review
The Law Society has been granted permission to intervene in the judicial review of the legality of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA). The society said it is intervening in the case “in the best interests of all advocates”.
Solicitors’ market “wide open to competition” from national brands, says LSB
Most aspects of legal services can be delivered nationally and there is still significant potential for big brands to come in and provide large scale, lower cost services, according to a major report into competition in the solicitors’ market.
Blog
The civil courts and the digital divide
Despite the government’s decision to increase Ministry of Justice funding, its budget for 2025-26 is still 14% lower in real terms than in 2007-08.
The Decent Homes Standard scandal
It is well established that the UK has the highest proportion of inadequate housing in all of Europe. But what if the heart of the problem is even worse than we think?
The evolving standard: AI and professional negligence
AI creates an obvious professional negligence risk. Using it carelessly may fall below the standard of reasonable skill and care. As may failing to use it, in certain circumstances.
