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.
£20 per transaction – Veyo finally sets out pricing
The Law Society-backed conveyancing portal Veyo is to charge £20 per transaction, it announced today. The fee includes anti-money laundering searches and conveyancing forms.
5,600 firms sign up to Lender Exchange
Over 5,600 law firms have signed up to Lender Exchange, a website which stores information on conveyancing panel firms for mortgage lenders.
Latest ABSs: Mishcon de Reya, Lake District firm and probate advisers take the plunge
London-based Mishcon de Reya, a rural firm in the Lake District, and a firm that currently carries out no reserved legal work at all are among the latest businesses to obtain alternative business structure licences.
NewLaw set to rack up seven joint venture ABSs as PwC review of Quindell is delayed
NewLaw Solicitors is eyeing up another three alternative business structure joint ventures, its publicly listed owner revealed yesterday. NewLaw – itself only the fourth ABS licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority – already has four joint venture ABSs
LSB asks regulators to justify restrictions on in-house lawyers
Unnecessary restrictions on in-house lawyers could “impose costs and red tape, frustrate innovation and adversely affect access to justice”, the Legal Services Board has argued.
CLC criticises Law Society’s “quasi-regulatory” conveyancing schemes
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has criticised “quasi-regulatory” conveyancing schemes launched by the Law Society which could be seen as “duplicating” the CLC’s work.
LSB: regulators making progress – but not on understanding users of legal services
The profession’s regulators are not doing enough to understand the consumers of lawyers’ services, the Legal Services Board has warned. But it said there has been progress since the first assessment in 2012/13.
The ultimate one-stop shop? Lawyer offers divorce advice, anti-ageing cream and sex therapy
An international lawyer is bringing new meaning to the idea of a multi-disciplinary practice after launching a business in London that combines legal advice for DIY divorce clients with anti-ageing serums and sex therapy.
