BSB warns commercial pressures driving barristers to take risks
Commercial pressures on barristers are causing high risk behaviours that are detectable in complaints received by the Bar Standards Board, an assessment of future regulatory dangers has revealed. It also highlighted what it claimed were indications that senior barristers were abusing their position of power over women, pupils, and junior barristers.
Essex Legal Services becomes only fourth local authority ABS
Essex Legal Services has become just the fourth local authority legal department to become an alternative business structure. The legal department of Essex County Council predicted that it could make an additional surplus of £1.8m by 2020 through a “growth strategy” with creation of the ABS as “one of the key enablers”.
Review highlights multiple failings that led to £7m failure of Veyo
Not involving expert conveyancers sufficiently was one of several fundamental failings that led to the collapse of the Law Society’s Veyo project, which has cost solicitors £7m, a review has concluded. External consultants said there was not one single decision or mistake which resulted in Veyo’s demise.
Groundbreaking research finds little pricing transparency among law firms
There is a serious lack of transparency over the pricing of common legal services, major new research has found – with those providers who do publish their rates and also the ones who offer fixed fees generally cheaper than law firms that do not.
Two ABSs on the way as Progeny springs into life
Two new alternative business structures are set for approval next week, as the Leeds-based Progeny Group comes into life. The group will combine a commercial law and private client ABS with a separate, FCA-regulated wealth management business.
Solicitor struck off after billing clients for work he didn’t do
A former senior partner who charged clients for work that had not been done has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The tribunal described the harm caused by David Michael Merrick, who had been a partner at Exeter firm Crosse & Crosse, as being “of the utmost seriousness”.
Would-be barrister fails in bid to lift vexatious litigant order
The High Court has rejected a bid by a would-be barrister to lift a decade-old declaration that she was a vexatious litigant, which she said was harming her prospects of becoming a lawyer. She has previously unsuccessfully sued the Law Society and College of Law dozens of times between them for alleged discrimination.
Bar’s “tribal culture” a barrier to clients and diversity, says BSB report
Barristers have a vital role in helping clients and witnesses understand the legal system but their own “distinct and tribal culture” is a barrier to doing so, a Bar Standards Board report has found. This culture was also seen as a barrier to improving diversity at the Bar.
SME law firm growth to slow in face of “new, post-recession norm”
This year could see small and medium-sized law firms struggle to match the growth of 2014 and 2015 as business levels settle into a new, post-recession norm, a major survey by NatWest has suggested. The bank also said that partners should be asking themselves whether the profit they made in 2015 was sufficient.
Solicitor sanctioned after lack of supervision meant trainee’s work did not count towards qualification
A solicitor whose lack of supervision contributed to a decision that a trainee’s two years of work did not count towards her qualification has been rebuked and fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. It is the maximum penalty that the regulator can levy short of a referral to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
