LeO confronts challenges to its relevance and announces budget cuts
The Legal Ombudsman is to attempt to build an early intervention capacity, including mediation and arbitration. Launching its 2014-17 draft strategy and budget, LeO also said it would seek to shave a further 5% off the cost of each case it handles.
All out – barristers step up legal aid opposition with morning of ‘non-attendance’
The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has announced a morning of ‘non-attendance’ on the first day of the new court term next year in a major escalation of its opposition to the government’s legal aid cuts.
Exclusive: “regulatory system needs to change,” says new minister
The current system for regulating the legal profession “has to change”, according to new justice minister Shailesh Vara in his first interview since taking office. Mr Vara also stressed that raising the small claims limit for personal injury cases remains firmly on the agenda.
QualitySolicitors bids to ditch all hourly billing for fixed fees
QualitySolicitors is to launch the ‘QS Price Promise’ that could see all 120 member firms ditch hourly billing early next year, it announced today. It wants to become “the first consumer legal service to offer fixed fees for all legal services – including litigation”.
S&G sets up research fund as fellow consumer ABS targets London
Slater & Gordon has announced a commitment of more than £500,000 to help fund research into the social and medical issues that impact its clients. Meanwhile, Minster Law has opened a 30-strong London office as part of its continuing growth.
Half of partners “don’t understand catastrophic personal consequences” of law firm failures
Half of partners do not fully understand the potentially “catastrophic” personal consequences of their firm getting into financial difficulty, new research has warned. Baker Tilly said individual partners in firms “can no longer expect that being a good lawyer is good enough”.
Government promises to break impasse on CMC complaints handling
The government has pledged in Parliament to “make every effort” to end the impasse and enable complaints against claims management companies to be handled by the Legal Ombudsman, more than a year after it committed to the move.
Slater & Gordon proves ambition to be consumer law powerhouse with £33m Pannone deal
Slater & Gordon will have more than 5% of the UK personal injury market, and number one or two market share position in most consumer law practice areas, it claimed today after announcing details of its long-awaited acquisition of Manchester firm Pannone.
The PI firm with huge growth plans that aims to be “last man standing” post Jackson
A north west personal injury law firms plans to more than double in size, invest in a new £7m landmark office building as part of its employee retention policy, and open branch offices in the Middle East and Asia.
SRA decides against testing thousands of firms for financial stability
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has decided against testing the financial stability of thousands more law firms despite concerns about how widespread problems are in the profession, it announced yesterday.
