Report: fake reviews underline need for best practice by legal comparison websites
Consumers are being misled by dubious practices in online reviews and endorsements, while more than half of buyers of services are swayed by them, according to an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority.
LSB invokes statutory powers to tackle concerns about Legal Ombudsman’s performance
The Legal Services Board has invoked its statutory power to set performance targets for the Office for Legal Complaints – the body that oversees the Legal Ombudsman – because of concerns that current targets are at risk of not being met and there are “inherent structural features [that] are likely to prevent significant improvements in performance being made”.
Lord Chief Justice worried about paucity of new QCs from outside London
The Lord Chief Justice has highlighted the “very worrying trend” of few appointments to silk outside of London and the impact this may have on diversity on the bench. However, Lord Thomas also expressed hope that an upcoming competition for deputy High Court judges would deliver “the kind of pool [of candidates] we have never seen before”.
LSB chief tells regulators: You have to justify continuing existence of rules
Legal regulators need to justify the continuing existence of their rules, and not wait for others to argue that they are not needed, the chief executive of the Legal Services Board has said. Richard Moriarty also urged the legal profession to “redouble” its efforts to innovate.
Exclusive: LSB chief executive cools talk of move to single regulator
The prospect of a single regulator for the legal market has dimmed after the new chief executive of the Legal Services Board distanced himself from the idea. Richard Moriarty was giving his first interview since taking over from Chris Kenny in February.
MoJ spending on consultants and temporary staff hits £200m as sick days reach double figures
The Ministry of Justice spent over £200m on consultants and temporary staff in the last financial year – a rise of almost £40m on the year before, it has emerged. Average sick days across the department have risen to over 10 for each member of staff.
Another barrier falls as Government Legal Service opens doors to chartered legal executives
The Government Legal Service has decided to open its lawyer job vacancies to fellows of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives for the first time. The first job being advertised is a £53,196 position as lawyer at HM Revenue & Customs.
“Taking the greed out of the legal market” – Pure Legal targets law firm acquisitions
The new legal business set up by the founder of Compass Costs – who became head of Quindell Legal Services after it bought Compass – is set to buy two law firms as it expands rapidly as part of a strategy to “take the greed out of the market” by going head to head with claims management companies and other work providers.
High Court stops disgruntled claimant pursuing lawyers in Hendrix case
The ghost of legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix loomed large in the High Court yesterday when a judge struck out claims against senior lawyers and imposed a civil restraint order on the claimant, in the latest twist of long-running litigation over his musical legacy.
Referral fees in criminal cases could lead to “arrest chasing”
Removing the ban on referral fees in criminal cases could lead to “arrest chasing” by solicitors, the Bar Council has warned, and result in “as much public opprobrium” as ambulance chasing. However, the Bar Council backed third-party accounts for solicitors.
