Solicitors and barristers “gearing up” for new era of CPD without the need to collect points
Almost half of law firms have already moved to the new approach of ‘continuing competence’ that no longer includes collecting CPD points – nearly six months ahead of it becoming compulsory.Meanwhile, the Bar Standards Board has announced that similar CPD regime for barristers will go live in January 2017.
Software suppliers association ends agreement with Free2Convey
The Legal Software Suppliers Association has ended its agreement with conveyancing portal Free2Convey, it has emerged. Free2Convey was set up by the LSSA last autumn as a rival to the Law Society’s failed conveyancing portal Veyo.
SDT strikes off another solicitor for fabricating documents
A solicitor has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for misconduct involving fabricating documents in order to convince a client that straightforward applications had been made when they had not. It is the latest example of a rash of solicitors facing disciplinary action for fabrications.
Financial services business adds legal advice to offering with ABS licence
The Lifetime Group has become the latest financial services business to add legal advice to its offering by gaining an alternative business structure. Meanwhile, Metamorph Law – which last year announced plans to “acquire, transform and aggregate” high street law firms – has received its ABS licence.
Lower-than-expected court fee income contributes to Ministry of Justice funding black hole
Lower-than-expected court fees from high-value cases and increased demand in the criminal justice system are behind the Ministry of Justice’s request for £427m extra funding over and above its designated department spending limit for 2015-16, it has emerged.
Difficulties with fees and clients but barristers expect direct access work to grow
Ignorance about fees, lack of public awareness and “excessive correspondence” from clients are just some of the challenges faced by direct access barristers, a major report by the Bar Standards Board and Legal Services Board has revealed. However, the “overwhelming consensus” was that direct access work would grow in the next few years.
Ex-solicitor impersonated HMRC official to trick SRA into helping challenge strike-off
Paul Baxendale-Walker, a struck-off solicitor who went on to run an adult film company and Loaded magazine, has been fined after being found guilty of impersonating an official from HM Revenue & Customs in dealings with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Brexit would damage lawyers’ access to single market, Treasury predicts
Lawyers will be worse off if the UK leaves the European Union because of a reduction in access to the single market, the analysis published yesterday by the Treasury has claimed. It said that lawyers have faced more trade barriers in the EU than any other professional services sector
“Boring” hearings or judges who interrupt? Neuberger knows what he likes
The written advocacy of continental European lawyers makes for “boring” court proceedings, according to the President of the Supreme Court. Lord Neuberger also said that well-paid advocates representing the rich had a responsibility to ensure access to justice for the poor.
Legal Ombudsman finally puts end to “irregular” staff benefits scheme
The flexible benefits scheme that saw Legal Ombudsman staff effectively paid hundreds of thousands of pounds on top of their salaries in the organisation’s first six years – until the government deemed the payments to be irregular – has been scrapped.
