Panel to celebrate firms and chambers which sign up to vulnerable consumer standard
Law firms, chambers, regulators and other legal bodies which sign up to the official British Standard on dealing with vulnerable consumers are to have their commitment celebrated publicly on the website of the Legal Services Consumer Panel.
18 solicitors sanctioned for money laundering breaches as Treasury warned over increased risks from ABSs
Eighteen solicitors were sanctioned by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal last year for breaches of anti-money laundering obligations, the Law Society has reported. It has also identified alternative business structures as among the increased risks of money laundering facing the profession.
Ombudsman sees good and bad signs in lower-than-expected level of complaints against lawyers
There are signs that lawyers are getting better at handling complaints but also still failing to signpost their clients to the Legal Ombudsman, the chief ombudsman has said. Both could help explain why complaint volumes are lower than had been planned for.
Will-writers receive ABS licence
A Buckinghamshire-based will-writing company has today become the latest recipient of an alternative business structure licence. Parchment Wills & Legal Services Ltd of Gerrards Cross is a founder member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters.
Revealed: niche property firm becomes newest ABS
A niche property law firm in Oxfordshire has become the sixth alternative business structure to be licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Its senior partner said becoming an ABS gives the firm “additional flexibility in terms of structuring our business”.
Co-op eyes up conveyancing firm acquisition
Co-operative Legal Services may look to acquire a conveyancing practice as it brings property work in-house, it revealed yesterday. The revelation came during a press briefing that laid out the Co-op’s strategy more clearly than ever before.
Firm claims RTA portal “breakthrough” as insolvency cases granted stay of LASPO execution
Liverpool costs specialists yesterday claimed a “massive breakthrough” in a dispute about the recovery of ATE insurance in RTA portal cases that has seen thousands of cases stayed. The news came as the government announced a two-year moratorium on ending recoverability in insolvency cases.
Co-op to recruit 3,000 staff as it bids to dominate consumer legal market
The Co-operative Group has today announced plans to create 3,000 jobs in the legal sector as it laid out its ambitions to create the largest consumer law business in the country. It will also offer face-to-face advice in all 330 of its bank branches.
Fixed fees to fore as barristers launch public access service and latest ‘find a solicitor’ site goes live
Two junior barristers from Liverpool have launched a public access service which offers legal advice to consumers for a £150 fixed fee. It comes as a new fixed-fee ‘find a solicitor’ site seeks to target those who are just above the eligibility threshold for legal aid,
Line of solicitors being marched through SDT for failure to pay insurance premiums
Fifteen solicitors have had sanctions imposed by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal – including indefinite suspensions – for failing to pay the premiums demanded while their firms were in the assigned risks pool, with 15 more still to face the tribunal.
