In defence of big brands: ethics, back-up, customer focus and value, argues Co-op
Big brands providing legal services will face “risks and pressures” which are not present in smaller private practice law firms – but the measures in place to control them “are likely to be substantial”, a senior member of the Co-operative Legal Services team has claimed, explaining what new entrants to the law will bring.
Halebury bids to put the ‘alternative’ into ABS
‘Alternative’ law firm Halebury, a specialist business and sport law firm, has announced plans to formalise that tag and become an alternative business structure after substantially bulking up its team.
Ombudsman prepares for ABS role – and publishing complaints data on 700 firms
The changing legal market brings with it “more potential for confusion” among consumers, justice minister Jonathan Djanogly acknowledged last week, making the role of the Legal Ombudsman even more important in future.
Consumer panel: lift ban on law centres and other not-for-profit advisers charging for work
The ban on law centres and other not-for-profit organisations charging for advice should be lifted as part of plans to bring them into the alternative business structure regime, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said.
QASA consultation reveals youth court shift as solicitors express continuing concerns
A final consultation on the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates has been amended at the last minute to take into account objections raised by the board of the Bar Standards Board.
BSB defeats challenge to validity of disciplinary tribunal panel
The Bar Standards Board has successfully defended a challenge to the validity of a disciplinary tribunal, in the first case to be argued over flaws in the system of reappointing tribunal members.
Susskind: the market will “do its stuff” as ABSs drive unimagined efficiencies
It will take up to 10 years for the true effects of alternative business structures (ABSs) to be felt, Professor Richard Susskind said this week. He said the only certainty at the moment was that much of the £25bn legal market is “very inefficient”.
Training review to put values and ethics at “core of legal services”
Putting “values and ethics” at the heart of legal services provision will be one of the key themes taken forward by the Legal Education and Training Review following a major symposium in Manchester, along with quality of legal services and paralegals.
In brief: ABS-in-waiting unveils strong results, barrister libel ruling, and much more
Our latest news round-up reports on big turnover and profit increases at Quindell, a High Court ruling on the absolute privilege of correspondence with a regulator, new equality rules for chambers and much more.
Complex legal products risk the law’s own mis-selling scandal, ombudsman warns
The Chief Legal Ombudsman today warned of the risk of a payment protection insurance-type scandal engulfing the legal profession after collecting evidence of clients being sold complex and confusing legal products that they often struggled to understand.
