Solicitors
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.
Accountant’s reports safe from public exposure after FoI ruling
The Law Society’s freedom of information adjudicator has rejected a bid to open up public access to accountant’s reports submitted to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Law Society recruits new chief executive from NHSLA
The Law Society has chosen Catherine Dixon to replace Des Hudson as chief executive. Mr Hudson will retire at the end of this month.
SRA to investigate asylum advice after judges overturn convictions
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to investigate the quality of legal advice provided to asylum seekers, in part because of concerns expressed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, it has emerged.
Police Federation solicitor set to be investigated by SRA
A solicitor who advised the Police Federation is set to be investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) amid allegations of police misconduct over the death of a man during a drugs search.
LSB extends time for indemnity decision
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has extended by up to two months the time it can take to decide whether to approve a cut in the minimum indemnity limit for law firms.
Lower indemnity limit would “attract discount in premiums”, SRA insists
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has insisted that a lower minimum limit for indemnity insurance would “attract a discount in premiums” for law firms as it sought to counter widespread criticism of its plans.
CML warns of “fast and potentially drastic action” if indemnity limit is cut
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has warned that cutting the minimum indemnity limit for law firms could force lenders into taking “fast and potentially drastic action”.
Information Commissioner sounds alarm over lawyers’ handling of personal data
The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued a warning to solicitors and barristers over the need to keep personal information secure, especially paper files, in the wake of “a number of data breaches” in recent months.
Rated insurers “may be reluctant” to offer lower indemnity limits
Rated insurers may be reluctant to offer law firms indemnity limits as low as the £500,000 proposed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), a leading insurance broker has warned.
SRA calls for evidence as indemnity deadline approaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a call for evidence on its indemnity insurance reforms, as the Legal Services Board (LSB) continues its deliberations on whether or not to approve a cut in the minimum cover limit.
PC fee still too high, solicitors tell Law Society
Solicitors believe the practising certificate (PC) fee is still too high, despite a cut of 17% approved by the Law Society council earlier this month, research has revealed.
Sole practitioners warn of “dire consequences” if indemnity limit is cut
Sole practitioners have warned of “dire consequences” if the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) goes ahead with its plans to cut the minimum limit for indemnity cover from £2m to £500,000.
Most ABSs would “do things differently” if they applied again
A large majority of alternative business structures, 89%, would tackle their application differently if they applied to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for a licence again, research has revealed.
Law Society Sharia wills guidance “cannot change the law”, justice minister says
The government has refused to be drawn into the row over controversial advice from the Law Society on Sharia-compliant wills, but insisted that it “does not, and cannot, change the law”.
Blog
Why later-life divorce requires a distinct professional framework
Later-life divorce, often described as ‘silver splitter’ or ‘grey divorce’ cases, is no longer a marginal feature of family law practice. It challenges long-standing assumptions about how divorce work is done.
Listening, learning and leading The Solicitor’s Charity with care
As I prepare to hand over the mantle of chair of The Solicitor’s Charity next month, it doesn’t feel like an end. Instead, it feels like a wonderful journey.
Is competition in the legal sector stifling innovation?
As the legal sector’s competitive landscape continues to evolve, Nobel laureates remind us that innovation is not inevitable,and that competition may not always be an incentive to innovate.
