Innovative Scottish corporate law business outlines English ambitions
An innovative Scottish legal services business that works on fixed fees and offers clients an outsourced in-house legal function is looking to replicate its model south of Hadrian’s Wall. Vialex is also eyeing up becoming an ABS.
Government u-turn on scrapping criminal sanctions for breaches of money laundering regulations
The government has changed its mind over scrapping more than two dozen money laundering offences that can penalise lawyers for minor rule breaches, but has emphasised that minor failures should not lead to prosecution.
Norwich firm eyes first football ABS
The prospect of the first football-related alternative business structure moved closer to reality this week after a Norwich law firm set up a football agency. Leathes Prior has also launched an innovative litigation risk analysis tool.
High Court orders regulator to consider £2.3m compensation claims
The High Court has ordered the Council for Licensed Conveyancers to consider £2.3m claims for compensation after it overturned an internal decision that the CLC was unable to make any grants at all.
File reviews – are they really necessary?
Since the introduction of the SRA Handbook, firms have been asking whether they should introduce or improve a file review system. Corinne Staves, a senior associate at Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP, considers the issues.
High level of consumer satisfaction with legal services providers, says research
Satisfaction with legal services providers is high, major new research has found, with those using solicitors likely to get a better result than those who sought advice from other providers. But fewer than half of those with legal needs sought professional help.
Ministry of Justice: no backtracking on April 2013 for RTA and small claims changes
The government has made clear its intention to push ahead with extending the RTA process and also increasing the personal injury small claims limit next April despite publication of the Fenn report yesterday.
Criminal law solicitors’ verdict on Law Society scheme: redundant and ignored by clients
The Law Society’s criminal litigation accreditation scheme is redundant, has no influence on clients and plans for reaccreditation are strongly opposed by the profession, the body representing criminal law solicitors has claimed.
BSB hits back at Today programme attack on barrister disciplinary system
The Bar Standards Board has hit back at criticism on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme of the way in which it conducts disciplinary proceedings against barristers, with claims of “secrecy, incompetence and maladministration”.
Goodbye lawyer, hello legal workflow and process analyst
Innovative legal businesses such as Riverview Law, Co-operative Legal Services and Parabis are demanding a new approach to educating and training new lawyers as they create different roles for them, such as project management and data analysis.
