SRA shuts several law firms, with dishonesty allegations to the fore
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has closed a host of law firms in recent weeks, including two London firms on the grounds of suspected dishonesty.
Artificial intelligence “could be good news” for lawyers and clients alike
Artificial intelligence and associated technologies do not necessarily spell universal doom and gloom for the legal profession, Legal Futures’ latest Insight publication has found. They might also assist lawyers to expand their services, supply them more cheaply, and create new, different kinds of employment for legal professionals.
Report: Law firms’ unwillingness to change opening the door to new market entrants
The slow pace of change in the legal profession means it is “not surprising” to see new types of firms, with completely different business models, winning market share, an authoritative survey has found, adding that “the market is ripe for change”.
Lack of “strong brands” to advise small businesses, says Rocket Lawyer chief
There are “no strong brands yet” to advise small businesses on legal services and law firms tend to “look the same”, Mark Edwards, vice president and general manager of Rocket Lawyer UK, has said. Mr Edwards said innovation was “not happening as much as it should be” in the legal market.
Accountants are eating away at mid-tier law firms and will target the big boys next, says report
The ‘Big Four’ accountants are proving “intense competition” for mid-tier law firms and “quietly” taking the more commoditised work away from them, the head of legal services at RBS has said, predicting that the accountants will move on to compete with bigger firms.
Disciplinary tribunals halves budget for so far non-existent ABS appeals
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has halved its budget for appeals from alternative business structures, as it has yet to receive one since the Solicitors Regulation Authority started licensing them in 2012.
Police complaints commissioner to become Chief Legal Ombudsman as scale of task becomes clear
Kathryn Stone, a police complaints commissioner, is to become chief ombudsman at the Legal Ombudsman in January next year. The appointment comes at a time when new figures put LeO under further pressure from the Legal Services Board over deteriorating performance against its targets.
Artistic ABS provides one-stop shop for creative clients
Counterculture Partnership, a multi-disciplinary practice with one lawyer among 11 partners, has become an alternative business structure. Solicitor Keith Arrowsmith said clients liked the fact that it was an ABS and was under strict rules on confidentiality.
Young lawyers call for centralised assessment test for the LPC
The Solicitors Regulation Authority should drop its plans for a centralised assessment test for would-be solicitors at the point of qualification and instead introduce a centralised test for the legal practice course, young lawyers have argued.
Solicitors should be braver about asking for work, new LawNet chair says
Law firms should be braver in asking potential clients for work and making sure they follow up leads, the new chair of LawNet has said. Kim Carr, managing partner of FBC Manby Bowdler, said lawyers “didn’t like selling things”.
