Council plans joint venture ABS with law firm to target public sector clients
Kent Legal Services – the legal arm of Kent County Council – is planning to launch an alternative business structure in conjunction with regional law firm Geldards, it has emerged.
Scrapping minimum salary will stimulate more, if lower-paid, training contracts, says SRA
Scrapping the minimum salary for trainee solicitors is likely to stimulate more training contracts – but the majority will pay below the current minimum level, a Solicitors Regulation Authority report has concluded. However, the negative impact on diversity is not as clear-cut as critics think.
Government confirms U-turn on raising small-claims limit for PI claims
The government today executed a major U-turn on raising the small claims limit for personal injury claims, having announced three months ago that it was not going to do so.
Court of Appeal ruling highlights need for retainers to deal with clients who won’t pay their bills
Law firms’ terms of business need to clearly provide them with adequate rights to stop work for a client who refuses to pay, solicitors have been warned following an important Court of Appeal ruling yesterday.
Regulator lays bare litany of complaints over mySRA
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has laid bare the litany of complaints about the botched 2011 practising certificate renewal process. Introduction of the mySRA system was beset by technical problems.
SRA hanging in-house lawyers out to dry with unclear ABS rule, Law Society claims
Solicitors Regulation Authority is acting unreasonably by leaving it to in-house lawyers to decide whether the law requires that their legal teams become alternative business structures, the Law Society has claimed.
Leaked e-mail reveals ABI mulling bid to slash RTA portal fee from £1,200 to £150
The Association of British Insurers may call for the fixed fees payable under the RTA portal to be slashed by nearly 90% to £150 as part of its negotiation strategy, a leaked e-mail has revealed.
LSB rejects Bar Council criticism over advice from leading City firm
The Legal Services Board has rejected criticism from the Bar Council over its use of leading City law firm Hogan Lovells during the investigation into changes to the cab-rank rule.
BSB research highlights problems non-traditional candidates face in securing pupillage
Applicants for pupillage who are white, male, attended a fee-paying school or Oxbridge, or have parents who are educated to degree level are all more likely to succeed than those without such characteristics, Bar Standards Board research has found.
Co-op to launch family law service in London before nationwide roll-out
Co-operative Legal Services will this summer launch its family law service in London before rolling it out nationwide, director Christina Blacklaws has revealed. From launch CLS will provide the full range of family law services, and has a legal aid contract.
