Innovation in providing legal services will be “paramount”, survey finds
A large majority of law firms think that, over the next five years, “innovation in providing legal services will be paramount” as they reach the limit of cost-cutting measures, a survey has found.
County court backs law student McKenzie Friend scheme
Huddersfield County Court has backed a scheme in which local law students act as unpaid McKenzie Friends to help litigants in person. Duty solicitors at the court will approve suitable cases when the scheme launches later this month.
Irwin Mitchell unveils new advertising push to “distance” itself from other firms
Irwin Mitchell has become the latest major consumer law firm to launch a new advertising campaign aimed across a spread of its services, including a personal injury commercial that it said would “distance” the practice from other firms.
Large law firms “most worried” about threats from ABSs and accountancy firms
Large law firms are most worried about the threat from alternative business structures (ABSs) and accountancy firms, but interest in becoming ABSs themselves is waning fast, new research has found.
No duty on solicitors to check credit status of parties, High Court rules
Solicitors are not under a general duty to check the credit status of parties in a commercial transaction unless instructed to, the High Court has ruled. Who to trust in a business situation is “a commercial decision for the client to take and not the solicitor”.
Tribunal gives SRA a pasting in first appeal against use of power to rebuke solicitor
In what is believed to be the first appeal against a sanction imposed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has revoked the decision to rebuke a solicitor and his firm over alleged failures to nominate compliance officers in time and disclose a suitability issue.
Tax man expecting rush of solicitors declaring income as ‘naming and shaming’ looms
HM Revenue & Customs is expecting a rush of solicitors owning up to income they have not declared as next Monday’s deadline for the ‘Solicitors Tax Campaign’ draws near.
LSB underplaying needs of “vulnerable” in favour of business, warns bar regulator
The Legal Services Board should not put the needs of business users of the courts before the “most vulnerable and disempowered”, the Bar Standards Board has argued.
Argument rages on over pros and cons of non-lawyer investment
Does non-lawyer ownership end damaging short-termism within law firms and improve both the economics and culture of legal practice, or does it risk standards and offer little in the way of increasing access to legal services?
Law Society warns LeO away from taking on complaints against unregulated providers
The Law Society has told the Legal Ombudsman that solicitors’ practising certificate fees should not be used for ‘thought leadership’ exercises that extend beyond legal services.
