Brexit and competition from accountants top fears among City firms
Almost half of City firms view Brexit as a threat and more than two thirds see other professional services firms as the overwhelming threat among recent entrants to the profession, according to a survey published yesterday. It found that almost a quarter of City firms named Brexit as the biggest challenge to their future success.
Ground rent negligence claims start to surge as report identifies undersettling and discount rate as other major risks
The surge in claims against solicitors over their advice to home buyers on ground rent clauses has begun, with 400 issued in less than a year, according to new research. It also identified the discount rate, undersettling and conveyancing fraud as the other big negligence risks facing the solicitors’ profession due to the wider economic environment.
Change in disciplinary standard of proof “will incentivise barristers to deliver good services”, says consumer panel
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has given strong backing to the Bar Standards Board’s proposal to reduce the standard of proof in disciplinary proceedings from the criminal to the civil standard. “[It] will be fairer on consumers, and it may act as a positive incentive for barristers to deliver good services,” the panel said.
CILEx unveils bid to be next ABS licensing authority
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives has become the latest legal regulator to apply to license alternative business structures. Chartered legal executives have been able to set up their own law firms since 2015, but not if they have non-lawyer ownership or investment.
“Be prepared to criticise judges pushing reform,” Bar Council chair tells barristers
The rise in judge-led reform means that barristers may to start speaking out against those they appear before, the chairman of the Bar Council has said. The Bar had to change its habits and be “prepared, where necessary robustly”, to criticise a proposal from a senior and respected judge.
Fraudsters going to “considerable lengths” to impersonate conveyancers
The many ways in which fraudsters try to trick solicitors, property owners, buyers, sellers, borrowers and lenders have been laid out in new guidance issued jointly by HM Land Registry and the Law Society. Meanwhile, a top London law firm has warned solicitors to beware of the HMRC stamp duty land tax calculator.
“Part of the system” – ethnic minority defendants do not trust solicitors, Lammy report finds
Black, Asian and minority ethnic defendants do not trust legal aid solicitors and often enter not guilty pleas against advice as a result, according to a major report. The Lammy Review said BAME defendants often saw duty solicitors as ‘part of the system’ and so pleaded not guilty.
NewLaw owner unveils strong results as it strengthens law firm’s non-RTA business
Redde, the AIM-listed accident management company that owns two law firms has recorded strong annual results, with turnover up 25% and profits increasing 16%. It also laid out how it is growing the services offered by its main firm, pioneering alternative business structure NewLaw Solicitors, into areas other than road traffic-related claims.
CMA urges legal regulators to move faster on price transparency
The Competition and Markets Authority is concerned at the pace with which regulators are planning to introduce greater price transparency in the legal market, it has emerged. It has also been suggested that greater use of fixed fees could stimulate unmet legal need.
Lord Chief Justice highlights concern over focus on consumer interest in legal regulation
The outgoing Lord Chief Justice today outlined the judiciary’s “nascent concern” that the public interest too often gives way to the consumer interest in legal services regulation. The comments by Lord Thomas echo those of the incoming president of the Supreme Court, Baroness Hale earlier this year.
