Plant hits out at City law firms over trainee recruitment
The ex-City lawyer chairman of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has questioned the recruitment methods of City law firms in making university students decide to become commercial lawyers so early on in their legal careers.
LeO expansion could create “muddle” for consumers, will writers warn
The Legal Ombudsman’s plan to widen its jurisdiction will cause a “muddle”, the Institute of Professional Willwriters has warned, revealing that other ADR providers had indicated an intention to move into the sector themselves.
ABS unveils acquisition strategy
Alternative business structure MTA Solicitors is bidding to grow its national network by acquiring firms and attaching them to its centralised support and resource infrastructure. It comes as another acquisitive practice has rewarded staff with a shorter working week.
SRA issues referral fee warning notice to PI firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued its first warning notice over the way personal injury firms are dealing with the referral fee ban. It highlights concerns that some solicitors are so busy ensuring they do not breach the ban that they are failing to consider their wider professional duties.
Lack of diversity should raise flag about firms, LSB tells regulators
Legal regulators should in future rate the risk that firms present to the public on the basis of the diversity of their workforce, and focus supervision on those with the worst records, according to a report.
Barrister-led firm becomes first dedicated tax ABS
A multi-disciplinary tax planning firm with a barrister as its only lawyer, has entered into regulation with the Solicitors Regulation Authority in order to offer clients tax law advice within an alternative business structure.
Revealed: SRA launches review of COFA role
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has begun a review of the role of compliance officers for finance and administration, less than a year since they took up their posts. Meanwhile, it has expressed concern about the lack of self-reporting by firms.
High Court rejects challenge to BSB disciplinary tribunals
A High Court judgment that refused three applications for judicial review of barristers’ disciplinary decisions is to be appealed, after the court found that anomalies in tribunal panel member appointments did not affect the validity of the findings.
Grayling: we intend to do a lot on deregulation
The Lord Chancellor has given his strongest hint yet that the government is preparing for a major overhaul of the regulatory regime for lawyers. Chris Grayling also noted that there is no shortage of law firms in England and Wales.
Mayson attacks market in “spurious claims” and urges focus on value
Lawyers have lost sight of their true purpose and legal practice should focus less on “spurious” claims and more on providing clients with valuable outcomes, Professor Stephen Mayson has urged. Reconnecting the purpose of law and lawyers is “essential to enabling a meaningful and worthwhile future for law”, he warned.
