Other lawyers
Firms line up to help develop probate apprenticeship
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has given the green light to a 10-firm consortium led by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers to develop a specialist probate apprenticeship.
Parliament gives green light to open up probate and conveyancing rights
The House of Lords yesterday gave the final go-ahead for chartered legal executives and others with appropriate expertise to offer probate and conveyancing services without the supervision of solicitors.
MoJ rejects any form of regulation for will-writing in wake of LeO call
The Ministry of Justice has made it clear that it is not in favour of any form of regulation for will-writing, following calls by LeO for a voluntary ombudsman scheme. It said “other options should be explored first
LeO calls for voluntary wills and probate ombudsman scheme
The chief legal ombudsman, Adam Sampson, has called on the government to extend its jursidction to unregulated will-writing and probate providers – while also highlighting continued shortcomings among regulated providers.
March of the accountants, part 2: ICAEW announces first ABS licence
Top-20 firm Kingston Smith has become the first accountancy firm to be licensed as an alternative business structure by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to carry out probate work.
LSB: accountant will investigate PC fee spending
The Legal Services Board is to hire an external accountant to examine how the Law Society and other regulators spend money raised through compulsory practising certificate fees.
LSB supports fee-charging McKenzie Friends – with safeguards
The Legal Services Board said yesterday that it supports recognition of fee-charging McKenzie Friends as a “legitimate feature of the evolving legal services market”, but also called for safeguards.
Government approves standards for legal apprenticeships
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has approved the standards for its new legal apprenticeships, allowing young people to qualify as solicitors, chartered legal executives, licensed conveyancers and paralegals through workplace-based training.
Last hurdle before accountants can offer probate services: a two-day course
Passing a two-day course will enable accountants to start offering probate law services to the public, after the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales yesterday officially received the power to regulate probate and licence alternative business structures.
Lord Chancellors should be legally qualified, Lord Judge says
Lord Judge, the former Lord Chief Justice (LCJ), has told peers that Lord Chancellors should have “some legal qualification”.
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).
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.
"Door is open" on regulation of will-writing, Kenny says
The government may look again at the question of whether to regulate will-writing, the chief executive of the Legal Services Board has indicated. Justice minister Shailesh Vara has left open the door “for further consideration”, Chris Kenny said.
Legal regulators face having to appoint ‘small business appeals champions’
The Legal Services Board has told the government that if it wants to appoint ‘small business appeals champions’ for legal services, it should appoint them to the boards of the eight front-line regulators rather than the super-regulator.
LeO: make conveyancers answer to HMRC for stamp duty failings
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has suggested that conveyancers, rather than clients, should answer to HMRC when stamp duty payments fail to arrive.
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.
