Not-for-profit providers “should be able to charge” for legal advice
Law centres and other not-for-profit organisations should be allowed to charge for advice to help counter the impact of legal aid cuts and reduced local authority funding, the Legal Services Board said today.
COLP and COFA nomination process to begin next month – but you might not be approved in time
Law firms will be able to start nominating the compliance officers for legal practice and for finance and administration at the end of May – but the Solicitors Regulation Authority has admitted they may not all be approved by the start-date of 31 October.
Barristers and solicitor launch unique law firm dedicated to private prosecutions
Two barristers and solicitor have opened the first law firm dedicated to bringing private prosecutions. Edmonds Marshall McMahon is focused particularly on fraud, counterfeiting and corporate crime.
Law Society to “put its money where its mouth is” with COLP advice service
The Law Society is to pilot an initiative that will provide advice to compliance officers for legal practice (COLPs) and then stand by the COLP if it is then challenged by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Barristers blame solicitors for falling standards of criminal advocacy
Deteriorating standards of criminal advocacy are having an impact on the administration of justice – with solicitor-advocates to blame, a Bar Standards Board survey has claimed.
Exclusive: corporate financiers enter market to target mid-market law firms
A team of senior corporate financiers has joined forces with a law firm management consultancy specialising in alternative business structures to target mid-market law firms, Legal Futures can reveal.
Law firms warned of greater money laundering risk during Olympics
Law firms need to be alert to increased risks of being targeted by fraudsters and money launderers during the London Olympics, the Law Society has warned. Issues include fake passports, sham disputes and visits by foreign politically exposed persons.
Government overturns LASPO changes as Djanogly hits out at “inflated” law firm profits
The government as expected overturned all of the House of Lords amendments to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill last night, with justice minister Jonathan Djanogly saying the Jackson reforms would put an end to the “racket” that has allowed “inflated profits” for law firms.
College of Law to grow two-year LLB in wake of £200m sale to private equity
The College of Law is to target expansion of its new undergraduate law degree following its sale to Montague Private Equity. The deal separates the legal education and training business from the college’s charitable activities, with the proceeds of the sale going into a £200m-plus fund.
American bar ditches bid to introduce non-lawyer ownership of firms
The American Bar Association has dropped plans for any changes to its policy prohibiting the non-lawyer ownership of law firms. Having rejected more radical ideas such as ABSs, it had proposed a form of legal disciplinary practice.
