SME law firms “face the most threat” from new entrants, survey finds
Small and medium-sized law firms “face the most threat” from new entrants and increased competition, a wide-ranging survey of the UK legal services market has found.
Cabinet minister urges more action to ensure gender equality in the law
Equal pay and a change in culture that makes women feel “comfortable in the working environment” are the keys to ensuring a “truly fair, equal, and diverse legal profession”, a cabinet minister who used to be a City solicitor has argued.
Legal aid providers “trying to innovate” but destablised by cuts
More than a third of advice agencies that have so far implemented charging for legal services appear to have done so sustainably, a survey of post-LASPO innovations has found.
Law Society report: City firms consider themselves “way ahead” on diversity
The big City firms believe they are “way ahead” of the Law Society on diversity and inclusion, a report for the society has found. But the only LBGT network that had supported the victim of a homophobic comment was at a large City firm.
Former diplomat becomes chair of IPS as Bradley leaves CLC
Quinton Quayle, a former British ambassador to Thailand, has been appointed chair of ILEX Professional Standards. Meanwhile, the Council for Licensed Conveyancers has announced that Anna Bradley is stepping down as chair after five years.
QC-backed ‘second opinion’ service aims to succeed where Stobarts failed
A law firm set up to give the public quick and easy online access to barristers’ opinions has been launched by a criminal law solicitor along with two QCs and around 20 chambers across the country.
BSB investigates complaints about 17 barristers at same chambers
The Bar Standards Board is investigating complaints about 17 barristers at the same chambers, it has emerged. Meanwhile, there have been 55 expressions of interest and seven formal applications to form BSB-regulated entities.
Law firms failing to meet threat of market disruption, says report
Law firms are failing to respond to the disruptive effects of new entrants to legal services and continue to measure their success using traditional performance metrics, according to a report on market influences in 2015.
£1.2m in “irregular” payments made to Legal Ombudsman staff, says MoJ
The Ministry of Justice has declared more than £1.2m of payments made to staff at the Legal Ombudsman in the years since it was established to be “irregular”.
“I want to dominate the market,” says entrepreneur as he secures £12m funding for clin neg ABS
An entrepreneur has revealed plans to combine a claims management company, a consumer website and the clinical negligence department of a top 100 firm to form a market-dominating alternative business structure.
