Todd calls for last stand against QASA
The chairman of the Bar Council has called for a last stand against several “objectionable” elements of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates or else they will form part of similar schemes planned for all areas of legal practice.
Public sector ABS eyes external investment to expand
A specialist public sector law firm is eyeing up external investment so as to fund expansion, as well as strategic partnerships with others to secure market share, after becoming the newest alternative business structure.
Visitors throw out conviction of pioneering barrister for conducting litigation
The first barrister to become a partner in a legal disciplinary practice has overturned a disciplinary tribunal ruling that she conducted litigation in breach of the Bar’s code of conduct, with both the tribunal and the Bar Standards Board coming in for criticism.
BSB will not contest challenges to "biased" disciplinary tribunal decisions
The Bar Standards Board is to accept that some barristers should have disciplinary findings against them overturned because of “anomalies” in the constitution of the tribunal panel which made the decision, it has emerged.
Mr Lawyer enters the online ‘find a solicitor’ fray
A new ‘find a solicitor’ website that prioritises lawyers with good feedback from their clients is set to go live in October. MrLawyer.co.uk claims it will “help to change the way the legal industry currently operates”.
Law Society cancels annual conference as corporate lawyers shun Wales
The Law Society has been forced to cancel its national conference – which would have been the first for seven years – because of insufficient interest from corporate lawyers in travelling to south Wales.
Liverpool firm becomes first family law ABS
A Liverpool-based practice has become the first specialist family law firm to become an alternative business structure. Tracey Miller Family Law will use its new status to allow business development manager Anthony Hool to take a minority stake in the firm.
LETR team floats radical reforms to “unfit” training regime
The system for training lawyers is not fit for purpose, the Legal Education and Training Review research team has suggested. The team of academics floated a series of ideas that in some instances would represent radical reform of the present regime.
Leading conveyancing firms gain ABS status
Two of the country’s best-known conveyancing practices have become alternative business structures, while an insolvency and litigation practice has also achieved ABS status.
Legal Ombudsman to accept complaints about claims management companies
Claims management companies (CMCs) face the prospect of having to provide financial compensation to unhappy customers after the government announced today that they are to come within the remit of the Legal Ombudsman.
