Legal Services Board
Law Society clashes with Bar over changes to cab-rank rule
The Law Society has called on the Legal Services Board to reject changes to the cab-rank rule in the latest stage of the long-running saga over standard contractual terms between barristers and solicitors. The society said they would have an “anti-competitive effect.
Bar Standards Board hits back at “premature” LSB demands to single out immigration specialists
The Bar Standards Board is to push back against a Legal Services Board demand that it implement a regulatory regime for immigration specialist barristers by the end of 2012, saying the LSB has failed to produce evidence it is necessary.
LSB set to survive government review despite best efforts of frontline bodies
The Legal Services Board is likely to survive the government’s triennial review of its functions largely unscathed, despite a series of attacks from those it oversees, it has emerged.
Edmonds tells lawyers to get off their high horse about non-lawyers’ impact on their ethics
It is “demeaning” to suggest that non-lawyers becoming involved in alternative business structures are less likely to be ethical, the chairman of the Legal Services Board claimed last night. David Edmonds also pointed to a string of scandals involving lawyers.
LSB calls on government to back bid for huge increase in SRA’s fining powers
The Legal Services Board has called on the government to support a bid by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for a massive increase in the amount it can fine law firms. The SRA wants to increase its power to fine law firms from £2,000 to £250m, and to £50m for individuals.
LSB rejects Bar Council criticism over advice from leading City firm
The Legal Services Board has rejected criticism from the Bar Council over its use of leading City law firm Hogan Lovells during the investigation into changes to the cab-rank rule.
Edmonds comes out fighting in defence of LSB
It is far too early to talk about winding down the Legal Services Board, its chairman has argued, while also criticising the Law Society and Bar Council for their failure to embrace independent regulation quickly enough.
Four bodies to throw their hats into the ring to regulate will-writers
Four bodies have already put themselves forward to regulate will-writers following the Legal Services Board’s proposal that will-writing become a reserved legal activity, with all making their intentions clear at this week’s Legal Futures conference.
Will-writing and estate administration to become reserved legal activities
Will-writing and estate administration should become reserved legal activities, the Legal Services Board has recommended. The long-awaited conclusions of its statutory investigation also highlighted the need to improve standards among regulated providers like solicitors.
LSB to investigate regulating all "general legal advice"
The Legal Services Board is to examine whether ‘general legal advice’ given to consumers should be regulated, it announced today, but has rejected the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s call for all solicitor-type services to be reserved.
Not-for-profit providers “should be able to charge” for legal advice
Law centres and other not-for-profit organisations should be allowed to charge for advice to help counter the impact of legal aid cuts and reduced local authority funding, the Legal Services Board said today.
Legal Services Consumer Panel survives the chop – for now
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has escaped the government’s consolidation of consumer advocacy and information into Citizens Advice – for now. The move was strongly opposed by the Legal Services Board but supported by the Law Society.
LSB defends the use of “forceful facilitation” against “misguided” criticism of its work…
The Legal Services Board has hit back at the “misguided” criticism of its role, saying that experience has proven the need for its “forceful facilitation”. Its response to the Ministry of Justice’s triennial review comes after severe criticism from some of those it oversees.
… as Law Society calls on government to slash the LSB’s budget to stop it overstepping the mark
The Legal Services Board should have its budget slashed so as to rein in its ambitions to move beyond a supervisory role, the Law Society has claimed. However, the SRA, CILEx and Council for Licensed Conveyancers have been more measured in their criticism.
Licensed conveyancers refused right to conduct litigation and advocacy – for now
The Legal Services Board yesterday rejected a bid to allow licensed conveyancers to conduct litigation and advocacy, after more than a year of consideration. It had run into fierce opposition from the Lord Chief Justice and the Law Society.
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Amplifying reach through employee-driven thought leadership
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Divorce escrow: asset sales before final settlement
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