Legal Services Act

The Legal Services Board has activated statutory powers that require the Law Society to provide monthly reports on whether it is complying with rules that are meant to ensure the independence of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

The Legal Services Board is in the first tranche of quangos subject to a new triennial review process, Cabinet Office minister Frances Maude announced last week. It will review whether the board’s functions are required and other tests of continuing relevance.

The Legal Ombudsman has warned “phoenix” law firms that seek to avoid the consequences of their actions by closing down and reopening – and even changing regulators – that it can still pursue them for past complaints.

The Legal Services Board is planning to reduce its levy on the legal profession by 9% next year, it announced yesterday while outlining its plans for 2012/13 and wider strategic objectives for the next three years.

The Legal Ombudsman has successfully fought off two judicial reviews against its decisions, with a further five currently going through the court process, Legal Futures can reveal. The SRA has also fought off the two JRs of its new qualified lawyer transfer scheme.

Our regular round-up includes reports that Admiral is considering becoming an ABS, the SRA starting work on the referral fee ban, Labour’s latest LASPO amendments, the Information Commissioner mulling powers to force law firm audits, and a warning over getting involved in land-banking.

A number of companies are looking at registering their legal departments as alternative business structures (ABSs) in a bid to turn their in-house function into profit centres, it has been claimed. But there are difficulties to be addressed.

Consumers are generally happy with high street conveyancers and by contrast very cool about the idea of going to a big brand to help them move house, a major new opinion poll has found. YouGov surveyed 1,959 people who had bought a house in the last two years.

Co-operative Legal Services has confirmed that it intends to submit its bid to become an alternative business structure on 3 January 2012 – the day the Solicitors Regulation Authority will begin accepting applications.

Big four accountancy firm PwC is to explore whether to absorb its associated law firm and become an alternative business structure. Legal services is the one area of the firm’s work where it is not able to operate as a totally integrated practice.

Alternative business structures could be decisive in helping smaller charities access legal advice with fixed fees, according to research which shows many lack understanding of their legal needs and cannot afford solicitors.

The first video-conferencing kiosk to give instant access to a solicitor will be launched in a shopping centre this month, Legal Futures can reveal. Instant Law UK, which plans 120 kiosks by the end of 2012, will add a home-user service next month.

America last week moved a major step closer to introducing a version of legal disciplinary practices (LDPs), while ruling out multi-disciplinary practices. The American Bar Association has noted the “remarkable” growth of LDPs in England and Wales.

The Legal Ombudsman should have jurisdiction over non-lawyer employment advisers as part of work to improve consumer protection in the field, employment judges have suggested. Their primary concern was the lack of consistency in the redress available to claimants.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority will begin accepting licensing applications for alternative business structures from 3 January 2012, with the first successful ones announced within around six weeks, it announced today.