GCs urged to take control of process and technology needs
More than three quarters of general counsel lack separate budgets for process and technology services, despite exactly the same percentage identifying a “compelling need” for them, a survey has found. “To have a compelling need, but have no budgetary control is potentially ‘creek, canoe, no paddle’ territory”, it said.
Dual-qualified lawyer struck off as solicitor is disbarred for “persistent dishonesty”
A dual-qualified employment lawyer, struck off as a solicitor last year for deceiving clients, has been disbarred for his “persistent dishonesty”. The Bar Standards Board said Jean Etienne Attala attempted to cover up the fact employment claims he was handling had been struck out.
Temperature rises as Law Society and SRA row over regulator’s independence
An extraordinary war of words between the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) stepped up yesterday after the regulator was accused of “seemingly seeking to undermine” Chancery Lane. The society said comments by the SRA’s leadership this week were “perhaps… an indication of the lack of value our regulator places on our profession”.
SDT fines London solicitors who did not realise they needed to close down their firm
Three solicitors from East London have been fined by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for failing to secure or check that indemnity insurance was in place for their firm, and continuing to accept new clients when they should have been closing it down.
Dixon defends previous employer NHSLA while setting out vision for Law Society
The Law Society chief executive has said complaints that the behaviour of her former employer, the NHS Litigation Authority, drive up legal costs are not accurate. In the third and final part of our interview with Catherine Dixon, she also outlined her ambition to make the Law Society more member focused.
Philip: Law Society’s £35m share of PC fee should be repaid to solicitors
The Law Society’s share of the Practising Certificate fee should be repaid to solicitors if the Solicitors Regulation Authority becomes fully independent, the regulator’s chief executive has said. Paul Philip said the society’s share was around £35m or £250 for each solicitor.
AA closes ABS to new PI clients as National Accident Helpline announces strong growth
The AA has shut its alternative business structure, AA Law, to new clients, it has emerged. The motoring giant said: “Following a strategic review the AA decided that the level of customers it was introducing did not justify the maintenance of a standalone business.”
LSB to encourage comparison websites to enter the law and challenge regulators over practising fees
The Legal Services Board is set to make encouraging comparison sites to enter the legal market one of its goals for the next year, along with telling regulators to be clearer about how they spend the profession’s money.
Claimant and defendant groups clash over Insurance Fraud Taskforce report – but the SRA is happy
Claimant and defendant personal injury interests have clashed over this week’s report of the government-commissioned Insurance Fraud Taskforce – while the Solicitors Regulation Authority has welcomed the call for its fining powers to be increased and the burden of proof before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal lowered.
Dixon on SRA independence: how are we a profession if we cannot set our own standards?
Government plans to make the Solicitors Regulation Authority totally separate from the Law Society must not be to the detriment of professional involvement in setting standards, the society’s chief executive has said.
