Law firm attached to new insurance business gains ABS licence
A new insurance business that will also offer wills, probate and family law services is set to go live after its law firm received an alternative business structure licence. It is the first insurance/law firm tie-up that does not involve personal injury claims.
SRA warns solicitors off ‘get rich quick’ SDLT and referral fee schemes
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned law firms under financial pressure against becoming involved in schemes that “manage” the ban on referral fees or promote “improper” ways to avoid stamp duty land tax.
MoJ sets legal services review in motion
The Ministry of Justice yesterday made public its plan for a new legal services review that aims to simplify the regulatory framework governing lawyers. The review will encompass “the full breadth of the legislative framework”.
Bar Council faces probe over “undermining” independent regulation of barristers
The Legal Services Board has launched a formal investigation into whether the Bar Council interfered with the independent regulation of barristers over controversial changes made to the cab-rank rule by the Bar Standards Board.
Co-op launches multi-million pound legal services advertising campaign
The Co-operative Legal Services has today stepped up its attack on the legal market by launching its first ever TV and radio advertising campaign. The multi-million pound campaign will air on TV and radio stations across London.
Deloitte warns government: ABSs are not the solution to criminal legal aid reform
The viability of using alternative business structures as a means to offer criminal legal services under the government’s price competitive tendering scheme is questionable, a report by consultants Deloitte has warned.
Clegg leads youth army to City law firms in search of fair access
Nick Clegg, former Dragon’s Den star James Caan and busloads of young people will descend on City law firms Slaughter and May and CMS Cameron McKenna today as part of the deputy prime minister’s campaign to increase opportunities for those from less privileged backgrounds.
Growing amount of legal work can be “de-lawyered”, says LSB director
A growing amount of legal work could be “de-lawyered” and provided by organisations that offer a wide range of legal and non-legal services, the strategy director of the Legal Services Board has suggested.
BSB wades into legal aid row
The Bar Standards Board has waded into the controversy over government plans to introduce price competitive tendering in criminal work by warning that it risks causing irreparable harm to the credibility of the criminal justice system and incentivises lawyers to encourage guilty pleas.
Minister tells profession to adapt to “the new circumstances” of life in the law
Solicitors and barristers will have to adjust to “the new circumstances” they are facing as a result of legal aid and other reforms “if they are going to survive”, justice minister Lord McNally said yesterday.
