SRA hits out at LSB approach to regulation and ABS licensing
The Legal Services Board has overstepped its bounds, distorted the Legal Services Act’s regulatory balance, aligned itself too closely with the government, and intervened in matters beyond its competence, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has charged.
Leading City firms get NOTICED with diversity initiative launch
An inter-firm diversity initiative is being launched this month to make the legal sector more accessible to lawyers from multi-cultural backgrounds. A number of City firms are already on board with the NOTICED (Networking Opportunities to Integrate, Celebrate and Educate on Diversity) scheme.
Top media firm and regional practice seeking external cash help take ABS total to over 100
A leading media law firm and a regional practice seeking minority external ownership to drive an acquisition strategy are among the latest alternative business structure approvals as the number of licences issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority tops 100.
BT Law to have more than 100 staff as it targets expansion
BT’s new legal arm will have more than 100 staff once it is at full strength, its head of legal practice has revealed. Miles Jobling also expressed strong confidence that it would prove an attractive service to those seeking volume services.
Spend, spend, spend – Bar Council criticises LSB budget and accuses it of “mission-creep”
The Bar Council has renewed its assault on the Legal Services Board by questioning its decision to spend thousands on academic research into the cab rank rule and intervening in the Prudential case – which it said was proof of “mission creep”.
BT Law goes live after global telecoms giant wins ABS licence
Global communications company BT has been awarded an alternative business structure license from the Solicitors Regulation Authority to launch BT Law Ltd. It will provide legal services to corporate customers, initially in the motor claims market, but with an eye to expanding into other areas.
LeO: blame Law Society and consumer groups for end of ‘free complaints’ system
The Law Society and consumer groups are to blame for the Legal Ombudsman dropping its ‘two free complaints a year’ offer, the chief ombudsman has explained. Meanwhile, allowing complaints from people who are not clients will not be an extra burden on the profession, he pledged.
300 law firms still don’t have compliance officers
More than two months since law firms were meant to have their compliance officers in place, around 300 firms still do not have them, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has revealed. This is a mix of firms that have not had their nominations approved and those that have still not nominated at all.
AIM-listed legal expenses insurer buys Manchester law firm
Legal expenses insurer and alternative business structure Abbey Protection plc has acquired Manchester commercial law firm Lewis Hymanson Small, completing a three-pronged strategy to expand its services to the SME market.
LSB calls for equal pay audits amid worries about gender and race disparities
All legal services providers should undertake and publish equal pay audits, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has suggested – this would ideally be voluntary, “but only if it results in the changes needed”. It came in an LSB review of the evidence on equal pay.
