Legal Services Act

Lawyers are “rather arrogant”, “exploit young people” and resort to “deception” when charging for work, the head of an international employers group has said.

The idea of alternative business structures is starting to gain a foothold in America after working parties in two more states joined California in recommending non-lawyer ownership of law firms.

Consolidator Metamorph Law has made its second acquisition this year – and eighth in total in a little over three years – as several other mergers and acquisitions have also been unveiled.

A leading law firm specialising in payment protection insurance cases – one of which led to a landmark Supreme Court decision – has gone out of business.

The Legal Service Board might develop targets for improving the “legal capability” of consumers and review the frontline regulators’ work on public legal education, in its first push in the area.

Law firm consolidator AWH Legal – which says it plans £100m worth of acquisitions in the next two years – has made its first purchase outside of personal injury.

The Legal Ombudsman is running a ‘proof of concept’ pilot as it decides whether to introduce formal mediation as another route to settling dispute between lawyers and their clients.

Current and former partners of what was Ince & Co have made claims of nearly £16m to its administrators.
However, there is no indication that these claims will be satisfied anywhere near in full.

Four law firms have so far signed up to a groundbreaking consortium marketing for litigation work that also involves block-rated ‘day one’ after-the-event insurance for commercial work.

Four leading legal charities have urged the government to delay next year’s whiplash reforms over fears that litigants in person and the organisations supporting them will be overwhelmed by the new regime.