Legal Services Act
Division of claims complaints costs unfair, says First4Lawyers
The Ministry of Justice proposals on how the Legal Ombudsman’s costs for handling complaints against claims management companies are recovered disproportionally penalises those working in personal injury, a leading marketing collective has argued.
SRA slashes ABS licensing backlog
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has slashed its backlog of ABS licensing applications from 142 in January 2013 to 52 in April this year, it has emerged. The average age of work-in-progress ABS applications is now three months.
Grayling tells LSB to work towards its own abolition
The Lord Chancellor has set the Legal Services Board the task of working towards its own abolition as part of a push to reduce the burden of regulation on the legal profession, he revealed yesterday.
Not-for-profit’s groundbreaking ABS eyes expansion
In the third part of our series in which we catch up on the progress of the new breed of alternative business structures (ABSs), we speak to Castle Park Solicitors, which was the first ABS to be created by a legal advice charity.
‘Direct access chambers’ opens for business and lands group action
A set of chambers specialising in direct access cases and working only on a fixed fee basis has opened in Cheltenham. Cotswold Barristers also claims to have landed the biggest direct access case so far.
NAH goes public and outlines major growth ambitions
Trading in shares in National Accident Helpline (NAH) began on AIM yesterday as it emerged that Minster Law – the major claimant practice owned by insurance group BGL – is taking 15% of potential clients the company receives.
New LSB chief: primary legislation needed to reduce regulatory complexity
Sir Michael Pitt, the new chairman of the Legal Services Board, has said that primary legislation will be needed to reduce the complexity of legal regulation and ensure it moves “at market pace”.
Increasing number of clients “can’t be bothered to complain” about their lawyer
Public awareness of the Legal Ombudsman is continuing to fall, while the number of dissatisfied clients who do not bother to complain is increasing, a survey has found.
IFA-owned ABS turns profit after first year
In the latest in our series tracking the fortunes of the new breed of alternative business structures (ABSs), we profile Bobby Dhanjal Wealth Management, which a year ago became the first financial services business to set up a legal arm.
Online barrister service hits crowdfunding target as Stobart demise “clears way”
Online barrister service myBarrister last week exceeded its target of raising £150,000 through crowd-funding. It has now raised more than £163,000 in just over two months from 65 individual investors – the largest of whom has put in £50,000.
Blog
Amplifying reach through employee-driven thought leadership
Nine in 10 executives believe thought leadership is critical to building authority, yet only a quarter feel they have implemented a robust strategy.
Divorce escrow: asset sales before final settlement
When significant matrimonial assets are sold before a final financial order is agreed, holding the proceeds safely and neutrally can present real practical challenges.
AML lacks clarity – and standards are suffering
If firms are buckling under the pressure of AML regulations, subject to ever-increasing fines, then something is clearly not working as it should be.
