Lord Chancellors should be judges, APIL argues
Lord Chancellors should be recruited from the judiciary and no longer combine the role with that of justice secretary, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has argued.
Former Law Society conveyancing chief to face disciplinary tribunal
Richard Barnett, former chair of the Law Society’s land law and conveyancing committee, has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).
Listed Australian PI firm “well placed” for UK expansion
The ‘other’ listed Australian personal injury firm – Shine Lawyers – considers itself “well placed” to take advantage of the changing UK legal market, it said yesterday.
Web forum drives QS firm’s consumer credit growth
The LegalBeagles web forum, set up by a Brighton litigation executive, is providing the town’s oldest law firm with a stream of consumer credit work and what is understood be the first bank charges court victory since 2007.
Global wealth consultancy launches ABS
Oracle Capital Group, a global family and wealth consultancy based in Luxembourg, is launching an ABS. The aim is to offer legal advice to its international clients, many of whom are entrepreneurs or business owners conducting transactions in or relocating to the UK.
Compensation fund faces £2.5m bill for uninsured law firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority expects its compensation fund to have to pay out up to £2.5m in the next practising year to cover the cost of negligence claims against uninsured law firms, it has emerged.
Hub.Legal aims to lead way in support for small firms
The solicitor in charge of a network of 136 West Midlands firms has said it aims to lead the way in support for small law firms, while remaining outside any national group. Hub.Legal is operated by FBC Manby Bowdler, formerly a hub in Pannone’s Connect2Law network.
SRA investigating nine criminal law firms over failures in advice to asylum seekers
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is investigating nine criminal law firms over failures in advice to asylum seekers, it has emerged. The Criminal Cases Review Commission submitted a confidential report to the regulator earlier this year after the convictions of 19 asylum seekers were overturned on appeal.
Barristers’ clerks leader condemns “scandalous” local authority portal scheme
A barrister portal scheme operated by the North West Legal Consortium, a group of over 30 local authorities, has been condemned as “scandalous” by the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks (IBC).
LSB praised for scuppering indemnity cover cut
The Legal Services Board has been praised for extending the time limit for its decision on whether to approve plans to cut the minimum indemnity limit for law firms, which meant the Solicitors Regulation Authority was unable to implement it this year.
