ABSs enter classroom with university’s ‘virtual law firm’ project
A University of Exeter project is teaching first year law undergraduates about alternative business structures, in what the academic tutor says is meeting outcomes recommended by the Legal Education and Training Review.
Slater & Gordon announces latest UK acquisition – but it’s not who you think
Slater & Gordon has announced the acquisition of a well-known northern legal practice – but not the one everyone was expecting. There was no mention of the talks to buy the consumer practice of Pannone at its AGM today.
Debt recovery ABS plans to double £10m turnover in three years
Ascent, the specialist debt alternative business structure that is part of the Irwin Mitchell Group, has outlined plans to more than double its turnover in the next three years. The Manchester-based firm has appointed two new chief operating officers to help drive the growth.
Law Society intervenes in QASA judicial review
The Law Society has been granted permission to intervene in the judicial review of the legality of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA). The society said it is intervening in the case “in the best interests of all advocates”.
Solicitors’ market “wide open to competition” from national brands, says LSB
Most aspects of legal services can be delivered nationally and there is still significant potential for big brands to come in and provide large scale, lower cost services, according to a major report into competition in the solicitors’ market.
Relief for claimant PI lawyers as government decides against raising small claims limit
The small claims limit for personal injury cases will not be going up to £5,000, the Ministry of Justice announced today. Instead it has unveiled a raft of other measures aimed at cutting the cost of motoring, including the creation of independent medical panels.
Exclusive: SRA snaps up LSB strategy chief
Crispin Passmore, the director of strategy at the Legal Services Board, is jumping ship for a newly created director-level policy role at the Solicitors Regulation Authority, Legal Futures understands.
Number of law firms without insurance continues to climb
The number of law firms that failed to find professional indemnity insurance by 1 October has continued to climb, Legal Futures can report. It has also emerged that law firms are responding slowly to the next deadline facing them – practising certificate renewal by 31 October.
Life-coaching ABS cooperative targets growth
A Leicester cooperative law firm that offers life coaching in addition to legal services, has obtained an alternative business structure (ABS) licence in order to develop its training arm. Kinetic Law Services Limited is the 199th ABS approved by the SRA.
The end of first ABS failure nears
The end of the first alternative business structure failure moved a step closer today after In-Deed Online plc announced plans for a reverse takeover by an e-learning company. AIM-listed In-Deed was the first listed company to buy a law firm.
