Legal Services Act

The rate of new lawyer comparison websites is speeding up, with at least four ramping up in the past month. Arguably the most significant has been the launch of a UK version of FindLaw, the leading free legal information website in the US.

Legal Futures is pleased to announce its first two events, which will both take place in October and be chaired by Editor Neil Rose. Meanwhile, we are also working with publisher Raconteur Media to produce a second supplement within The Times on “Legal Efficiency”.

Licensed conveyancers are to be the latest section of the legal profession to move to outcomes-focused regulation, as its regulator prepares to become a licensing authority for alternative business structures, meaning would-be ABSs will have a choice of regulator.

High street law firms need to do more to build their local profile to capture the 70% of people who say they do not have a local lawyer they could call on if needed, a new report has concluded. The research also found pessimism among sole practitioners, with 87% fearing for the future of their practices.

The boss of the Legal Complaints Service has expressed frustration and disappointment at the low number of her staff who have got jobs at the new Legal Ombudsman service, Legal Futures can reveal. This is despite the fact that it was the previous government’s expectation that around 80% of LCS staff would move over.

The high cost of the new regulatory regime for solicitors will ultimately be passed on to clients, raising questions over whether the system is “truly in the public interest”, a partner at a top-20 law firm has warned. Joe Bryant said recent increases in practising fees “may be the tip of the iceberg” given the indirect costs associated with the new regime.

The Institute of Legal Executives has unveiled plans to apply for the ability to grant Fellows and Graduate Members independent rights to conduct criminal litigation. The moves come as applications to grant civil litigation and probate rights have been formally made to the Legal Services Board.

The Law Society of Ireland has instigated judicial review proceedings against the Legal Services Board and Solicitors Regulation Authority over the introduction of the new regime for overseas lawyers who want to requalify as solicitors in England and Wales, it has emerged. The proceedings have, however, been stayed pending urgent discussions between the society and the SRA.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s proposed new handbook to govern the regulation of the profession is “a missed opportunity to deliver fully cultural change within firms” and that it could learn from the Financial Services Authority, the leading voice of legal consumers has claimed.

The Legal Services Board has delayed its plan to conduct “root and branch” reviews of approved regulators like the Law Society and Bar Council, replacing it with a query about their use of risk management information.

Common advocacy standards for criminal law specialist barristers, solicitors and legal executives should be in place by July 2011, it has been announced. Judges will play a major role in assessing top advocates and in the ‘traffic light’ system that will identify poorly performing advocates.

The Legal Services Board is to fast-track a decision on whether to regulate will-writers, it has emerged, with its consumer panel launching a formal investigation as a first step.

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has ruled out reinstating the ban on referral fees and instead is proposing enhanced transparency, with different rules for different types of legal work, Legal Futures can exclusively reveal after obtaining LSB papers under the Freedom of Information Act.

Conveyancers should be allowed to act for both seller and buyer far more regularly than is currently permitted, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said. They should also be required to include non-optional costs in their upfront fees.

Solicitors facing disciplinary proceedings after 1 October will no longer be able to call on their indemnity insurance to pay their defence costs, after the Legal Services Board approved changes to the indemnity rules. The decision comes despite strong opposition from the Law Society.