Separation would be better for both of us, SRA leaders tell Law Society
The leaders of the Solicitors Regulation Authority have made it clear that they believe it would be better for the public and the profession if they had complete independence from the Law Society. They were responding to the Treasury’s announcement earlier this week on independent regulation.
SDT fines directors of firm that used legal aid payments to stay afloat
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has fined or reprimanded the directors of a law firm for using legal aid disbursement payments to keep the practice afloat, after the economic recession and a merger put it under financial pressure. But it emerged during the hearing at the end of September that if payments owing to the firm had been made promptly, it would have been well within its bank overdraft.
Law firm and charity joint ABS “changing behaviours” in spinal injury cases
On its first anniversary, Aspire Law, a unique alternative business structure set up by Hampshire solicitors Moore Blatch and national spinal injury charity Aspire, has good reason to be cheerful. Twelve months on, the joint venture has grown to the point where it is challenging established players in this niche part of the serious injury market.
New figures highlight difficulties of finding pupillage as diversity of Bar students increases
The number of students on the Bar Professional Training Course from Asian backgrounds has increased to the point where it almost equals the number of white students, new figures have revealed. The figures have also highlighted the tiny number of students with lower second degrees who secure a pupillage.
Profession set on collision course with government over independent regulation
The government should return regulation to the legal profession’s representative bodies, rather than introduce full separation, the Law Society has said in response to yesterday’s surprise announcement from the Treasury that separation is now on the cards. The move is set to open up the fault lines in the current regulatory set-up created by the 2007 Legal Services Act.
LSB joins solicitors in questioning government’s criminal advocacy plans
The Legal Services Board has joined solicitors in questioning government plans to introduce additional regulation of criminal advocacy. The Bar Council supported the proposals by the Ministry of Justice.
Help firms switch regulator by scrapping run-off rules, CILEx Regulation tells LSB
Law firms that switch regulator should not be forced to buy six years of run-off insurance cover, CILEx Regulation has argued in a report for the Legal Services Board. It said that only firms which were actually closing should have to buy run-off cover.
Government promises to clear way for supermarket and estate agent ABSs
The government said today that it will “further reduce barriers” to make it easier for alternative business structures, such as supermarkets and estate agents, to offer legal services like conveyancing, probate and litigation. It will also seek the complete separation of regulators from representative bodies.
Bullish Slater & Gordon says: PI reforms will not have a “material effect” on main business
Slater & Gordon’s share price has bounced back after last week’s precipitous plunge following the Autumn Statement, with the law firm predicting that the reforms outlined by Chancellor George Osborne would not have a “material impact” on its core business.
High Court judge castigates senior property partner “who cut corners all the time”
A High Court judge has launched an extraordinary attack on a senior property partner, saying that although he was “on the whole” an honest witness, he “plainly cut corners all the time in his practice”. Mrs Justice Proudman said Michael Parker regarded himself as a “man of commerce”.
