Legal Services Act
Revealed: Law Society report to conclude that ABSs will not damage access to justice
Alternative business structures (ABSs) are unlikely to create a “serious adverse impact” on access to justice, research conducted for the Law Society is to conclude.
LSB and OLC chiefs on quango top-earners list
The heads of both the Legal Services Board (LSB) and Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) are in the list of those working at quangos who earn more than £150,000, which was released by the Cabinet Office today.
ABSs and conveyancing: a potent mix
For tech-savvy firms, alternative business structures will highlight the power of partnerships within the conveyancing sector, says David Kempster, marketing director at MDA SearchFlow.
Revealed: row brewing over demand for lay majority on SRA board
A row is brewing between the Law Society and the Legal Services Consumer Panel over the make-up of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) board, Legal Futures can reveal. The Law Society says it has no intention of taking active steps to remove the solicitor majority on the board until the current members’ terms end in 2013.
Legal Ombudsman confirms 6 October start
The Legal Ombudsman will open on 6 October 2010, it confirmed today. The board of the Legal Ombudsman has agreed to keep to its plans for opening, subject to the Parliamentary timetable. The announcement indicates confidence that the new service will survive scrutiny by the Cabinet committee examining the need for all pending regulations left by the previous government.
MSPs back will-writer regulation and compensation fund for ABSs
The Law Society of Scotland has welcomed MSPs’ decision to regulate non-lawyer will-writers and to give clients access to compensation in the event of dishonesty by alternative business structures.
The profession’s salvation?
Many lawyers entered the law to make a difference. Now is their chance, especially at this unique time in the profession’s history, with the Salvation Army set to launch a commercial law firm in Australia, says Scottish solicitor Raymond McLennan. Compulsory pro bono could be the answer.
Barristers slow to join LDPs
There has been a slow move to make up barristers as partners in legal disciplinary practices, Legal Futures can reveal. Figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority indicate that just nine barristers have so far become partners.
Lawyers cut out by consumers not realising their problems are ‘legal’, survey finds
Consumers do not realise that many of the problems they face are ‘legal’ and so do not consider approaching a lawyer for help, new research has revealed.
Criminal barristers need to transform into “litigation units” to survive, says bar chief
The criminal bar needs to transform itself into “fully functioning litigation units” within the next 12 to 24 months if it wants to survive, the chairman of the Bar Council has warned in a paper that sets out his vision for how the bar needs to change to meet the challenges of the Legal Services Act.
Blog
Modern vehicles: new injury profiles and new legal challenges
As the number of electric vehicles on UK roads continues to grow year-on-year, it is important to address the risks that come with their increased adoption.
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
