BSB decision to stop former chief constable self-funding pupillage upheld
A barristers’ chambers which offered an unfunded pupillage to a former police chief constable has lost its appeal against a Bar Standards Board decision that the move ran foul of equality rules designed to stop ‘rich kids’ from self-funding.
Exclusive: law firms push out CMCs as referral fee ban reshapes PI search market
The abolition of referral fees is “dramatically reshaping” the online personal injury (PI) market, with legal brands pushing out claims management companies, according to major new research seen exclusively by Legal Futures.
Don’t panic about new entrants but you have to act, warns solicitor who founded retail chain
A staid profession is a dead profession, a solicitor turned high street entrepreneur has warned, telling lawyers that they need to change the way they do things. However, Sahar Hashemi – the one-time City solicitor who went on to found Coffee Republic – said law firms should not panic.
SRA under fire for policing of referral fee ban and insurer/law firm ABSs
The Solicitors Regulation Authority came under fire this week for the way it is enforcing the referral fee ban, with its director of policy and strategy unable to tell solicitors how many investigations it has started since the ban came into force seven weeks ago.
Forget ABSs – AI, touchable holographs and telepresence robots “will transform the law”
Artificial intelligence will be in widespread use by tomorrow’s law businesses, serving clients who will be mobile users of “digital personal assistants” that use holographic displays and respond to the thoughts of their owners, according to futurologists.
Slater & Gordon chief urges firms to adopt employee ownership plans
Employee ownership of law firms is an opportunity to get the best young lawyers into early equity and minimise risk, according to Neil Kinsella, Slater & Gordon UK’s chief executive, as he outlined how the sector could respond to the changing legal landscape.
Exclusive: well-known PI firm unveils new post-LASPO ABS model
Well-known personal injury law firm Gorman Hamilton has launched a twin-track approach to life after LASPO, part of which has been to form an alternative business structure (ABS) in which a credit hire company has a minority stake.
Massive unmet legal need among small businesses, landmark research finds
Legal problems are costing small businesses in England and Wales £100bn a year, with fears over the cost of legal advice meaning they are far more likely to go it alone than seek help, authoritative new research from the Legal Services Board has found.
Underwood: Co-op and Quindell will fail as public turns against “big faceless institutions”
Big legal businesses such as Co-operative Legal Services and Quindell “will all fail”, according to leading alternative business structure (ABS) critic Kerry Underwood. However, he welcomed the possibilities opened up by external capital for existing legal practices.
Reform uncertainty forces new criminal law ABS to put external investment thoughts on hold
Plans to grow a criminal legal aid firm that has just received its alternative business structure licence – potentially through external investment – are on hold pending the outcome of the government’s current reform plans, according to its head of legal.
