Law Society set for governance review as it unveils new strategy
The Law Society is set to review its governance structure as part of a new strategy set against a background of a legal market which it said by 2020 would see more and faster consolidation among law firms, changing employment practices and an increased number of “diverse business models”.
Taking separation seriously: surveyors in country mansion set up ABS in coach house
A firm of quantity surveyors, based in a country mansion in Warwickshire, is setting up an alternative business structure in the coach house. Solicitor Warren Berwick said clients needed a “clear distinction”.
Lawyers should collaborate with ‘robots’, Law Society president says
Lawyers should use artificial intelligence to improve their work, drive efficiencies, increase accuracy and retain clients, the president of the Law Society has said. However, Jonathan Smithers said “expert intervention by lawyers” would always be needed.
Dispute looms over how Law Society can spend practising fee income
A “potentially high-profile and contentious” dispute between the Legal Services Board (LSB) and the Law Society is looming over how the latter spends money derived from practising fees. The LSB is to review its 2009 Practising Fee Rules after a hole was found in the Legal Services Act 2007.
Conveyancing solicitors acting for both sides must report crucial details to lenders, appeal judges rule
Solicitors acting for both sides in property transactions are under a duty to disclose crucial details to lenders, the Court of Appeal has ruled. They are not expected to act as a “detective or bloodhound”, but should report adverse “non-confidential information”.
ABS update: Parabis, Slater & Gordon, DAS Law and EY
The Parabis Group – the first law firm to be bought by a private equity business – is on the verge of being broken up, two months after problems first emerged. Meanwhile, England cricket captain Alistair Cook has helped launch a drop-in centre at Slater & Gordon’s flagship Manchester office.
Suspension for barrister who appeared in court without practising certificate
A Bar disciplinary tribunal has suspended barrister Martin Wynne Jones for three months for representing clients in court without a practising certificate, while disciplinary action has also been taken against a barrister who falsely claimed to have a law degree, and another who made false declarations about criminal convictions.
LSB to probe whether competition has brought down cost of legal services
A probe into what impact post-Legal Services Act competition has had on the cost of legal services has been launched. The Legal Services Board said that understanding changes in prices over time was one of the “key measures of the impacts of regulatory reforms designed to promote competition”.
Direct access service winning work mostly from solicitors and other barristers
Clerksroom Direct, which has over 1,000 direct access barristers on its books, has said that only around only 20% of its recent cases have come directly from members of the public. Half came from law firms and the rest from barristers’ chambers.
CA adds extra negligence finding and £375k damages on top of High Court’s £1.6m Withers ruling
The Court of Appeal has made an additional finding of negligence against leading London law firm Withers over its drafting of an LLP agreement and increased the £1.6m in damages awarded in the High Court by a further £375,000.
