SRA fires warning shots over referral fee ban and “reckless trading”
Law firms will be held responsible for breaching the personal injury referral fee ban if they sign up to ventures that appear to be genuine joint marketing schemes but prove illegal, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned. It will also target senior individuals within firms that “recklessly trade into insolvency”.
Regulator will be “under close scrutiny” with growth of insurer ABSs
There will be close scrutiny on the Solicitors Regulation Authority to ensure that alternative business structures (ABSs) tying insurers and solicitors together prioritise their duties to injured people, the regulator was warned yesterday.
Stress among lawyers on the up – but most won’t tell their employer
Three-quarters of lawyers in the UK and Ireland report being more stressed than they were five years ago but two-thirds are reluctant to report their concerns to employers, a survey has found. Seven out of ten said their work environment was stressful.
Legal Services Board to keep up pressure on SRA over ABS licences
The Legal Services Board is to keep the performance of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in issuing alternative business structure licences under scrutiny, it has emerged. We have discovered that in January it issued a statutory notice requiring the SRA to provide information.
More than 1,600 law firms and barristers now on Legal Ombudsman’s complaints list
The names of 1,617 law firms and barristers who have been the subject of a formal decision by the Legal Ombudsman are now in the public domain. But there are positive signs for the legal profession in how few have recorded even five formal decisions.
Strong consumer interest in legal services from brands
A majority of consumers would consider buying legal services from big brands, but publicity around alternative business structures and new ways to access the law over the past two years has not increased their appetite, research has indicated.
Row over unrated insurers erupts after SRA bids to calm Balva worries
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is holding firm against criticism over its position on unrated professional indemnity insurers after Latvian underwriter Balva – which covers 1,300 law firms – was prohibited from writing new UK business.
Oh baby – Bar Council finally launches first ever Bar Nursery
Barristers and chambers staff now have access to a nursery nears the Inns of Court in the first of what could be a national network of childcare facilities. The Bar Nursery has been launched five years after the idea was first mooted.
Number of individuals and firms in dock over COLP and COFA failures rises to 800
The total number of firms and individuals in trouble with the Solicitors Regulation Authority over nominations for compliance officers has risen by a third in the past month to nearly 800, it has emerged.
Smithers wins Law Society election as high street dominates top jobs
Property lawyer Jonathan Smithers has won the five-way election to become the next deputy vice-president of the Law Society. Mr Smithers’ election means that from July the Law Society office-holders will all be high street solicitors.
