Legal Services Act
Arizona looks to become first US state to allow ABSs
Arizona has become the first state in the US to formally seek the introduction of alternative business structures, it has emerged.
“Outrage” as only partners are allowed to work from home
A union representing legal workers has expressed “outrage” at the “classist allocation of risk” that is seeing law firm partners working from home while other staff are forced into the office.
Covid-19 round-up: BSB reassures barristers about rule breaches
Barristers who follow official guidance on Covid-19 will not be in breach of their professional obligations, the BSB has said amid a range of developments in the courts, PI and conveyancing.
Prospective LeO chief eyes taking action without complaints
The presumptive new chair of the Office for Legal Complaints – the board of the Legal Ombudsman – has suggested that it should not have to wait for complaints before taking action.
No whiplash rules until May as clock ticks down to launch
Personal injury law firms and insurers look unlikely to have sight of the new rules governing the whiplash portal until May as they were not signed off at this month’s rule committee meeting.
Legal aid lawyers call for government support over Covid-19
Criminal defence solicitors have called for expedited legal aid payments and an extension of the business rate holiday to law firms with contracts to combat the impact of Covid-19.
MBO of north-west firm heralds ‘buy and build’ strategy
North-west law firm Jackson Lees Group is the newest consolidator to hit the market, with a management buy-out the prelude to an aggressive nationwide ‘buy and build’ strategy.
ABSs diversify to offer clients non-legal services
Southern England commercial law firm EMW has made the first of what it says will be a series of acquisitions of specialist consultancies as it looks to diversify beyond legal work.
Ex-consumer panel chief set to return as LeO chair
The Legal Services Board has named the former chair of its consumer panel as its preferred candidate to chair the Office for Legal Complaints, the board of the Legal Ombudsman.
Sports ABS “ready to talk external investment”
A boutique sports law firm that counts Premier League football players among its clients has become an alternative business structure and is ready to discuss external investment.
Blog
Is clients’ use of AI destroying legal privilege?
Much has been written about the risks of lawyers misusing AI. However, in my view, the greater challenge lies elsewhere: the routine use of AI by clients themselves.
Does the Lloyd review mark the end of the Legal Services Act?
The Legal Services Board often generates eye-rolls and irritation from the leaders of the frontline regulators it oversees and of the representative bodies attached to them.
A familiar story?
There is no doubt that the rising cost of clinical negligence claims deserves attention. However, the system’s true cost driver is often not the claim itself.
