Law Society kicks out committee members who failed to undergo E&D training
Eight members of Law Society committees have been kicked off for failing to undergo mandatory equality and diversity training, it has emerged. All members of boards and committees had a 30 April 2013 deadline to undergo the training.
Will-writers face jail as new code of practice scheme goes live
Members of the Institute of Professional Willwriters who fail to comply with its code of practice face fines or even imprisonment, as a new UK-wide scheme to strengthen self-regulation by setting standards for such codes goes live.
Consumers “still see lawyers as too expensive”, says research
Close to half of consumers of legal services are not satisfied with the value for money they received, with probate providing the least satisfaction and will writing the most, according to research. Just 57% considered they received value for money on average.
SDT rulings send out warning to law firms over relationships with debt recovery companies
Law firms must not allow arrangements with debt recovery companies to compromise their independence, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned, after two solicitors were fined heavily for allowing litigation to be carried out in their name.
Legal sector “ripe” for investment
The legal sector is “ripe” for investment and capital should not be an issue with so many investors looking to buy into the profession, lawyers in the north-west were told this week. They were urged to “seize the opportunity” to establish what their clients wanted.
Horwich Farrelly becomes latest north-west ABS to head to London
Manchester-headquartered alternative business structure Horwich Farrelly has headed south to launch an office in the City of London. The specialist insurance litigation law firm estimates that the new office will generate up to £2m of income in its first year.
Only fifth of businesses use external lawyers to cope with consumer rights law
The cost to businesses seeking legal advice to comply with current piecemeal consumer rights legislation is as high as £2,500 a year – but they should see big savings as a result of forthcoming reform, the government has claimed.
Thirty of top 200 on SRA list of financially unstable firms
Around 30 of the top 200 law firms in England and Wales are under intensive supervision from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) because of fears about their financial stability, it emerged yesterday.
Legal Ombudsman chairman calls for major expansion in jurisdiction
All consumers of legal services – using a broad definition that includes “linked professional services and advice that has a legal dimension” – should have access to the Legal Ombudsman, its chairman said today.
Survey: conveyancers more worried by lenders than ABSs
Lender panels, rather than alternative business structures (ABSs), are the main threat to conveyancing businesses, new research has found. Interest among conveyancers in becoming an ABS also appears to be falling.
