LSB, Bar Council and big law firms sign up to Clegg’s ‘Business Compact’ on social mobility
The Legal Services Board, Bar Council and 10 top law firms have signed the government’s ‘Business Compact’ on social mobility to end the “who you know, not what you know” culture, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced.
Government kicks off review of LSB and Legal Ombudsman's roles
The government review of the “continuing need for the functions and the form” of the Legal Services Board and Office for Legal Complaints began yesterday with a call for evidence. It will take up to six months to complete.
RTA portal chairman cautious over PM’s plan to extend the scheme
The company that manages the road traffic accident claims portal has issued a cautious response to David Cameron’s announcement last week that he wants to extend the scheme, saying it is at the moment impossible to estimate how long the work would take.
BSB initiates review over huge rise in complaints against barristers by litigants in person
The Bar Standards Board is to conduct a review of the massive growth in complaints made against barristers by litigants in person – although it said this is likely to be caused by legal aid cuts.
Consumers don't need to use a lawyer to write their will, banks tell LSB
It is not necessary to use a legally qualified professional to prepare a will, the British Bankers Association has insisted. It said a bank’s in-house unit “produces just as satisfactory a service as a firm of solicitors regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority”.
Conveyancers dream of other jobs amid worries over the future
Nearly half of conveyancers would not choose a legal career if they had their time again, a survey has found. However, the survey of 116 practitioners by Searches UK found conveyancers were generally content in their area of practice.
Firms and chambers could be forced to publish how many complaints they receive
Law firms and barristers’ chambers may be forced to publish statistics on how efficiently they handle complaints internally – including how many they receive – the Legal Ombudsman has suggested.
News in brief: ABS applications update, SfH founder fights on, Eversheds’ "absolute fixed fee" and more
Our regular round-up includes the latest number of ABS applicants, an about-turn by the founder of Solicitors from Hell, Eversheds extending its partnership with Tyco, more cash for Rocket Lawyer, plus Manchester mergers, litigation funding and more.
HSBC unveils 43-strong conveyancing panel and tells customers: use it or pay more
HSBC has opened a new front in the conveyancing war by launching a panel of just 40 law firms to handle its mortgage work, which customers will not be obliged to use as well – but it will be much cheaper if they do.
Cameron pledges to extend portal to bigger claims and other areas of PI – just don’t ask which ones
The government is to extend the upper limit of the road traffic accident portal to £25,000, while similar fixed-fee schemes are to be introduced into other, as yet unspecified, areas of personal injury, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced.
