Revealed: PwC called in to improve "collaborative working" between Law Society and SRA
The continuing tension between the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority has been exposed by the revelation that the society brought in PwC to help improve “collaborative working” between the two – but that the SRA has rejected some of the accountants’ recommendations.
LeO fights off first judicial reviews of ombudsman decisions but five more are in the wings
The Legal Ombudsman has successfully fought off two judicial reviews against its decisions, with a further five currently going through the court process, Legal Futures can reveal. The SRA has also fought off the two JRs of its new qualified lawyer transfer scheme.
News in brief: Admiral Insurance "eyeing ABS", SRA referral fee summit, Jackson update and more
Our regular round-up includes reports that Admiral is considering becoming an ABS, the SRA starting work on the referral fee ban, Labour’s latest LASPO amendments, the Information Commissioner mulling powers to force law firm audits, and a warning over getting involved in land-banking.
Bar Council and economists call on government to support contingent legal aid fund
A contingent legal aid fund (CLAF) has merit but its viability cannot be assessed until the Jackson reforms settle down, a Bar Council-commissioned report has concluded. Consultants Europe Economics, backed by the Bar Council, called on the government to back the concept.
MoJ rejects extending referral fee ban for now but Beith predicts it will have to reconsider
The government has rejected a call by MPs to extend the proposed ban on referral fees beyond personal injury work – but a senior backbencher has predicted that it will have to return to the issue.
Narrowing pay gap with Asia "encouraging" law firms to set up domestic outsourcing operations
The narrowing gap between wages paid in the UK and in booming Asian economies mean offshore legal process outsourcing providers are facing a growing threat from law firms setting up their own onshore operations, an LPO consultancy has claimed.
Litigation funder plans £50m investment, while world's largest funder enters UK
A recently listed third-party litigation funder is expecting to invest £50m in cases over the next year, Legal Futures can reveal, as separately Buford Capital, the largest funder in the world, enters the UK market by buying leading after-the-event provider Firstassist Legal Expenses.
SRA warns against "unthinking compliance" with indicative behaviours
“Unthinking reliance” on the indicative behaviours in the Code of Conduct is not a risk-free approach to compliance, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned. Larger firms should also not appoint their senior or managing partners to the role of compliance office for legal practice.
Companies look at ABS switch to profit from in-house teams
A number of companies are looking at registering their legal departments as alternative business structures (ABSs) in a bid to turn their in-house function into profit centres, it has been claimed. But there are difficulties to be addressed.
West country firm named conveyancer of the year
West country firm Ashfords was named conveyancer of the year in a major industry award ceremony last week. It also won the large conveyancer of the year gold medal, while Wiltshire practice Awdry Bailey & Douglas won small conveyancer of the year for firms with up to 15 fee-earners.
