LSB lays down challenge to regulators – prove you can do the job or face action
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has told the regulators it oversees that now is the time for them to prove they can deliver what is expected of them, warning that it will put their promises “to the test”. The LSB said its focus in 2013/14 will be on the performance of the regulators.
More profitable private client departments have fewer secretaries, research finds
Private client departments with fewer secretaries are more profitable, new research has suggested. The mini-survey found that firms with less than one secretary for every two fee-earners reported a gross profit margin of 52%, as against 44% for firms with a higher ratio.
New Bar chief keeps up anti-LSB rhetoric
The new Bar Council chairman has pledged to work towards proving that the Legal Services Board is not needed. In a stinging attack, Maura McGowan QC warned that “it is not the function of a regulator to seek the total dismantling and restructuring of the system”.
Leading law firm ties up with BPO provider to offer defendant service to insurers
Leading defendant law firm DAC Beachcroft has joined forces with a leading business process outsourcer to offer insurers an extended motor claims-handling service. The agreement with Innovation Group mirrors the claimant outsourcing service the likes of Quindell Portfolio are putting together.
Whiplash proposals target fraudulent claims with increase in RTA small claims limit to £5,000
The government has today finally unveiled its long-awaited consultation on increasing the small claims limit for road traffic personal injury cases from £1,000 to £5,000, a move that would decimate the workload of many law firms.
Ombudsman warns of dangers of ABS conveyancing factories putting volume over service
Alternative business structures will create “conveyancing factories” that exert a downward pressure on prices and could lead to an upsurge in complaints because of a focus on volume over service, the Legal Ombudsman has warned.
Survey: ABSs are good for large PI firms – but not small practices or injured people
Alternative business structures in the personal injury market will do little to improve injured people’s access to justice but will benefit larger law firms at the expense of smaller ones, a new survey has found. Firms were split over whether their business models can survive the Jackson reforms.
Conveyancers reject Law Society call for referral fee ban
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has rejected Law Society calls for a ban on referral fees in conveyancing, although it is proposing to increase the disclosure requirements on firms. It found “little evidence of significant detriment” to consumers.
Survey: firms need better hold of “levers of profitability” to make most of clients and staff
Law firms are not maximising the potential in either their clients or their staff, according to new benchmarking research seen by Legal Futures. Firms reported very different results from cross-selling, for example,
Solicitors favour LinkedIn over Facebook and Twitter as social media use slowly grows
Fewer than half of solicitors in Scotland use the three main social media platforms for professional purposes, according to new research. The most popular social network tool was LinkedIn, with 24% of the solicitors polled using it on a daily or weekly basis.
