Legal Services Act
Consumer panel hits back over SRA ‘double standards’ claim
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has hit back at criticism by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) that it opposes a minimum indemnity insurance limit of £500,000 for solicitors, while supporting it for accountants.
LSB paves way for CLC to expand beyond conveyancing
The statutory framework of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) could be changed in a way that would potentially enable it to regulate all reserved legal activities, under plans outlined by the Legal Services Board (LSB).
ICAEW wins power to licence probate ABSs
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has been given the green light by Parliament to regulate alternative business structures which provide probate services, with dozens of firms already showing an interest in taking advantage.
North of England private equity firm invests £15m in industrial diseases ABS
NorthEdge Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing in businesses in the North of England, has announced an investment of £15m into Roberts Jackson, the Cheshire-based industrial disease alternative business structure.
Clinical negligence outsourcer bids to become alternative business structure
Clinical negligence outsourcer 5R1 has announced its intention to become the first in its field to obtain alternative business structure (ABS) status. It currently operates as a claims management company, regulated by the Ministry of Justice.
LSB attacks Bar Council’s “extreme reluctance” to adapt to market conditions
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has said the Bar Council’s response to the Jeffrey review illustrated its “extreme reluctance” to “look forward and adapt to market conditions”.
“Too intimidating and too expensive” – new LSB chair’s verdict on the legal market
The legal market is “too intimidating, too uniform and, in many cases, too expensive”, the new chairman of the Legal Services Board has warned. Sir Michael Pitt said also he would like to see lawyers’ rulebooks slimmed down.
Exclusive: will-writers’ trade body launches unique ABS
The Institute of Professional Willwriters has won approval for a unique alternative business structure that will enable its members and others to access related legal services for their clients, and share in the fees generated.
New Legal Ombudsman chair pushes for jurisdiction over all legal services providers
The new chair of the Office for Legal Complaints – which oversees the Legal Ombudsman – has outlined his ambition for the service to cover unregulated providers of legal services and those offering legal advice as part of a wider package.
LSB attacks SRA’s “over-engineered” approach to MDPs and non-lawyer owners
The Legal Services Board has attacked the Solicitors Regulation Authority for having “over-engineered” its approach to regulating multi-disciplinary alternative business structures and to approving non-lawyer owners.
Blog
Why AI and leadership choices will define law firm profitability in 2026
Despite rapid advances in legal technology, the future of law will not be determined by software alone. It will be shaped by leadership decisions.
Legal director: an alternative to partnership
Firms are increasingly acknowledging the need for alternative senior roles – positions that offer influence and recognition without the obligations of ownership.
It’s time for law firms to ask tougher questions
For years, many law firms have treated ID verification as a box-ticking exercise. Run a liveness check, match a face to a document and move on. But that is no longer good enough.
