Law Society Sharia wills guidance “cannot change the law”, justice minister says
The government has refused to be drawn into the row over controversial advice from the Law Society on Sharia-compliant wills, but insisted that it “does not, and cannot, change the law”.
LSB paves way for CLC to expand beyond conveyancing
The statutory framework of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) could be changed in a way that would potentially enable it to regulate all reserved legal activities, under plans outlined by the Legal Services Board (LSB).
Government introduces legislation to ban PI inducements
The government has gone ahead with its promise to ban personal injury lawyers from offering inducements, such as cash or iPads, to potential claimants by inserting a new clause into the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill.
ICAEW wins power to licence probate ABSs
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has been given the green light by Parliament to regulate alternative business structures which provide probate services, with dozens of firms already showing an interest in taking advantage.
North of England private equity firm invests £15m in industrial diseases ABS
NorthEdge Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing in businesses in the North of England, has announced an investment of £15m into Roberts Jackson, the Cheshire-based industrial disease alternative business structure.
Clinical negligence outsourcer bids to become alternative business structure
Clinical negligence outsourcer 5R1 has announced its intention to become the first in its field to obtain alternative business structure (ABS) status. It currently operates as a claims management company, regulated by the Ministry of Justice.
LSB attacks Bar Council’s “extreme reluctance” to adapt to market conditions
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has said the Bar Council’s response to the Jeffrey review illustrated its “extreme reluctance” to “look forward and adapt to market conditions”.
Ex-BSB director returns to the law with CILEx
Mandie Lavin, the former director of the Bar Standards Board, has returned to the legal scene after being appointed the new chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).
“Too intimidating and too expensive” – new LSB chair’s verdict on the legal market
The legal market is “too intimidating, too uniform and, in many cases, too expensive”, the new chairman of the Legal Services Board has warned. Sir Michael Pitt said also he would like to see lawyers’ rulebooks slimmed down.
Indemnity cover cut ignores ‘increasing’ number of larger claims
The number of larger professional indemnity claims is increasing, undermining the case for a cut in the minimum cover for law firms from £2m to £500,000, an industry expert has argued in a letter to the Legal Services Board.
