Legal Services Board head gives Bar Council public dressing-down
The chairman of the Legal Services Board has strongly criticised the Bar Council for its approach to dealing with the board, characterising its reaction to the Legal Services Act reforms as “walking backwards slowly”.
SRA lays out plan to implement referral fee ban
It will be for personal injury solicitors to convince the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) that they are not paying referral fees once the ban comes into force, it emerged today as the SRA published its long-awaited consultation on how it will implement the ban.
Top firms “waking up” to competition from ABSs – with one in five planning conversion themselves
Alternative business structures (ABSs) are increasingly on the radar of the top 100 law firms, with a growing number recognising them as threats to their profitability – and one in five planning ABS conversion themselves, according to new research.
Commercial claims company eyes ABS status
A commercial claims management company is considering converting to an alternative business structure (ABS) to further its work in aiding investors recoup losses from complex investments which they have been mis-sold.
Warning over “unbelievable” referral fee ban timetable that could leave firms just weeks to adapt
Law firms may have just weeks to reorganise their business plans once a decision is made on enforcing the ban on referral fees in personal injury work, a leading practitioner has warned while branding the situation “unbelievable”.
BSB sets course for barrister partnerships in 2013 and ABSs in 2014
Barristers are likely to be allowed to form partnerships next year and before they can create alternative business structures, the Bar Standards Board said last week. Meanwhile, it dropped a proposal to force barristers to withdraw from cases where a client refuses to reveal previous convictions to the court.
Smith: put online NHS Direct for law at heart of radically reformed legal aid system
An online NHS Direct for law, supported by 30 law centre-type operations in key areas around the country, should form the basis of a radical new approach to publicly funded legal services, according to a leading legal thinker.
Streamlined and quicker ABS licensing process on the way
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is set to “streamline” the alternative business structure (ABS) application process, its chief executive has revealed after its approach and the time it takes were criticised at a high-profile event yesterday.
Southampton firm scoops Law Society innovation award for online business club
A Southampton law firm that has set up a business club for entrepreneurs last night won the Law Society award for excellence in innovation. The society’s annual Excellence Awards also saw recognition for QualitySolicitors.
SRA warns firms and solicitors: co-operate or else
The Solicitors Regulation Authority sent out a strong message yesterday that firms which fail to co-operate with it will face tough action. It also emerged that the SRA is set to share details of the risks it considers law firms face with their COLPs and COFAs.
