Legal Services Board
MPs tell insurers to improve referral fee transparency or face government action
MPs today called on insurers to be much more transparent with policyholders about the “merry-go-round” of referral fees in their motor business – and for the government to step in if the industry fails to take action by the end of next year.
Government under fire for closing LSB, ombudsman and consumer panel websites
The Cabinet Office has refused to confirm whether it is going ahead with shutting down the websites of the Legal Services Board, Legal Ombudsman and Legal Services Consumer Panel after a strong attack in the House of Lords last night that claimed it threatens the independence of the legal profession.
LSB grants first application to extend reach of reserved legal activities
The Legal Services Board has for the first time granted an application to extend the reach of reserved legal activities, giving the Institute of Legal Executives the power to award the right to conduct litigation to associate prosecutors.
Ombudsman criticises insurance exclusion approved by the LSB last year
The Legal Ombudsman has criticised changes to the minimum terms and conditions for solicitors’ professional indemnity insurance that were approved by its parent Legal Services Board just last year.
SRA will reject restrictions on its ability to regulate ABSs, says Townsend
The Solicitors Regulation Authority will rebuff any efforts to restrict its ability to regulate alternative business structures (ABSs) that are 100% owned by non-lawyers, its chief executive has said. There are suggestions of a compromise on its ABS licensing application that would mean the SRA not regulating ABSs that are wholly externally owned, at least initially.
Regulators letting down consumers over complaints, says LSB
Frontline regulators are letting down consumers by failing to collect information on how lawyers are handling complaints, a review by the Legal Services Board has concluded. This would make it difficult for them “to identify systemic issues and adopt a targeted approach to regulation”.
Board hikes maximum ABS fine to £250m
The maximum fine for misdemeanours by alternative business structures should be £250m, the Legal Services Board has decided, having considered the amounts of money made by some law firms out of miners’ compensation claims.
Appeals decision threatens prospect of SRA becoming an ABS licensing authority
The Legal Services Board is pressing ahead with plans to make the new regulatory chamber of the First-tier Tribunal the sole venue for appeals against decisions made over ABSs, despite strong objections from solicitors. It is a move that could damage hopes that the Law Society council will next month approve the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s application to become an ABS licensing authority.
Barristers express concern over equality and diversity monitoring
Widespread doubts exist among barristers over aspects of the Bar Standards Board’s equality and diversity reforms, it emerged last week at a consultation event on proposed code of conduct rule changes, where concerns were raised over details of proposed monitoring requirements.
LSB ramps up preparations for regulating ABSs directly
A director of the Office of Fair Trading is heading a new committee to oversee the Legal Services Board’s contingency planning to regulate alternative business structures directly, Legal Futures can reveal.
Chambers not complying over complaints as SRA tells solicitors they need not help
Four out of ten barristers’ chambers have flouted a regulatory requirement to notify lay clients of their rights to complain about poor service, amid a continuing furore over difficulties in complying with the scheme, it has emerged. Meanwhile, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has confirmed that solicitors are under no obligation to assist barristers in contacting clients directly in order to meet their obligations.
Former Law Society president joins LSB as SRA unveils 12.5% cut in staff numbers
Former Law Society president Ed Nally was today appointed to the Legal Services Board (LSB) to fill a vacancy that has been open for more than a year. Meanwhile, the Solicitors Regulation Authority is to cut around 80 jobs as it prepares for outcomes-focused regulation and the licensing of alternative business structures from 6 October 2011.
Mayson: expand list of reserved legal activities
Conveyancing, immigration advice, preparing wills and powers of attorney, and estate administration should all become reserved legal activities, a leading thinktank has recommended. However, the report from the Legal Services Institute – headed by Professor Stephen Mayson – says this work should not be the sole preserve of the legally qualified.
LSB presses ahead with plan to regulate ABSs amid concerns over Law Society vote
The Legal Services Board is pushing ahead with preparations to regulate alternative business structures itself because of fears that the Law Society council will next month block the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s plan to become an ABS regulator, Legal Futures has learned.
Government u-turn on giving complaints data to LSC, JAC, QC body and others
In an embarrassing last-minute u-turn, government lawyers have blocked bodies including the Judicial Appointments Commission, QC Appointments and Legal Services Commission from receiving sensitive data on complaints against lawyers, Legal Futures has discovered.
Blog
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.
What high-performing consumer claims firms get right
Recurring concerns about parts of the volume claims sector show that the gap between well-run firms and those struggling to manage volume effectively is widening.
