Legal Services Board approves relaxation of rules on accountants’ reports
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s plans to relax the rules around accountants’ reports have been formally approved by the Legal Services Board, meaning that around 1,000 more law firms will not have to submit one in future
Employed barristers need specialist training in “persuasive advocacy” beyond the courtroom
The needs of employed barristers should not be ignored and “second class citizenship” should “by now be a myth”, a former Crown prosecutor has said. Karen Squibb-Williams argued that specialist training should be introduced for employed barristers, including “persuasive advocacy” which could be used in the boardroom as much as the court.
ABS sees expansion of non-legal services as key to growth
A North West alternative business structure has launched the latest in a series of branded businesses calculated to appeal to its commercial clients and strengthen the bond between them and the firm.
High Court refers immigration solicitors to SRA after five “hopeless” judicial reviews
The High Court has referred an immigration practice to the Solicitors Regulatory Authority after reviewing five “hopeless” judicial reviews, each of which had already been deemed to be an abuse of process.
SRA hoping for end of “long journey” on consumer credit after FCA deal
The chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said the end is in sight of its “long, long journey” on consumer credit after a last-minute deal with the Financial Conduct Authority.
SRA postpones introduction of third-party alternative to client account
The introduction of third-party managed accounts as an alternative to traditional client accounts will be postponed by at least a year to the end of 2016, the Solicitors Regulation Authority board decided yesterday. However, the board approved a mixed bag of deregulatory rule changes on other issues.
Axiom launches contracting platform to take the pain out of routine agreements
Legal services disruptor Axiom has claimed to be “the undisputed market leader in all things contracting” after launching an online platform that enables businesses to handle routine contracts with little effort.
SRA hits back after Law Society attack on indemnity reforms
Paul Philip, chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has hit back after the SRA’s latest indemnity insurance plans were fiercely criticised by the Law Society. He said the regulator had made “absolutely no new recommendations”.
Barrister and solicitor set up groundbreaking BSB-regulated firm
A barrister and solicitor have chosen the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to regulate their niche firm that specialises in defending teachers and other professionals in disciplinary actions. It is understood to be the first firm consisting of a barrister and solicitor to become a BSB entity.
It’s all about the pictures: government considers radical changes to contracts
Radical changes are being considered for government contracts for digital services, including removing “negative language”, limiting sentences to two lines and hosting boilerplate clauses online. Use of visual images is also being encouraged.
