Mid-Staffs scandal highlights dangers of defensive culture in the law, says consumer chief
A culture of defensiveness among lawyers risks the sort of regulatory failure that occurred in the Mid-Staffordshire Hospital Trust patient neglect scandal – and legal regulators must take heed, the head of the Legal Services Consumer Panel has warned.
LSB formally requests government to regulate will-writing – but not estate administration
The Legal Services Board (LSB) will today formally recommend to the Lord Chancellor that will-writing – but not estate administration – should be regulated legal work. The LSB had initially intended to include estate administration.
Consumers, solicitors and will-writers hit out at LSB decision on estate administration
Consumers, solicitors and will-writers have united to condemn the Legal Services Board’s decision not to recommend to the government that estate administration become a regulated activity. However, chartered accountants have welcomed it.
Law Society chief: failure to embrace flexible working holding back partnership diversity
Only a third of large firms who are signed up to a Law Society diversity charter – including three-quarters of the top-100 – have adopted flexible working, which helps explain why their partnerships remain “overwhelmingly white, heterosexual, male and able bodied”, the society’s president has complained.
Leading merger broker enters the law after striking deal with ABS consultancy
A leading merger broker has entered the legal market after joining forces with specialist advisory firm Invest in Law, Legal Futures can reveal. Langcliffe Merger Connect, which spun out of accountancy firm RSM Tenon last year, said it wanted to capitalise on the increasing M&A activity in the sector.
Barristers appeal disciplinary findings in wake of Bar tribunal failures
Three barristers have so far said they will appeal against disciplinary decisions affected by the failure of the Council of the Inns of Court to administer the Bar’s tribunal system properly, with the Bar Standards Board not resisting two of them, it has emerged.
EU anti-money laundering plans put client confidentiality at risk, Law Society warns
Client confidentiality could be undermined by proposed changes to the European money laundering directive, the Law Society has warned. The removal of simplified due diligence provisions for client accounts is among a number of proposals to which the society objects.
Croydon PI solicitor teams up with local newspaper in novel approach to referrals
An entrepreneurial personal injury solicitor has teamed up with his local newspaper to create a community charity funded by a substantial donation every time he receives an instruction from a member of the public.
Bobby dazzler as financial advisers become first to launch own law firm
An East Midlands firm of independent financial advisers is building a law firm from scratch to provide a one-stop shop for clients after obtaining an alternative business structure licence. Bobby Dhanjal Wealth Management has launched Bobby Dhanjal Legal Services Limited.
Clients reject notion of lower legal fees in return for reduced consumer protection
Consumers believe regulators ensure they have protections when buying legal services – although they don’t really know what they are – and are content to pay extra for them, a survey of users’ perceptions has found. But they also expect lawyers to provide better information about their rights.
