SRA unveils its first three ABSs
Co-operative Legal Services and high street firms John Welch and Stammers, and Lawbridge Solicitors Ltd have today become the first alternative business structures licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
LASPO: government suffers two defeats over legal aid for children, tightens referral fee ban
The government suffered two more defeats during yesterday’s final House of Lords stage of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, and also tightened up the ban on referral fees.
Abbey Protection unveils three-pronged ABS plan for SME market
Well-known legal expenses insurer Abbey Protection is to launch a three-pronged attack on the SME market once its application to become an alternative business structure has been approved, it has revealed.
Pioneering web-based probate service goes live as two investigations into online legal advice begin
A groundbreaking online probate service has gone live, allowing people to handle straightforward cases themselves for £349. In the coming months it will also be sold to law firms as a white-label product. Meanwhile, the Law Society has begun investigating online legal services.
BSB to seek approval for introduction of aptitude test that will weed out bottom 10% of students
The Bar Standards Board is formally to seek the introduction of an aptitude test for prospective Bar professional training course students from this autumn, setting the pass rate at a level that would eliminate the weakest 10% of students.
Law Society rolls out £40,000 rebrand
The Law Society has spent around £40,000 on a rebranding exercise rolled out this month, it has confirmed. The cost – equating to 33p per practising certificate payer – includes design costs, preparation and installation of new templates, new stationery and so on.
Legal Ombudsman: let us accept complaints from prospective clients and third parties
Prospective clients and third parties will be able to make complaints about lawyers, if plans unveiled by the Legal Ombudsman today go ahead. The one-year time limit for making complaints to LeO will also be extended, as will the level of compensation it can award.
RTA portal extension cannot be done by April 2013, government told
It will be impossible to extend the RTA portal either to larger claims or to employer’s and public liability claims by the target date of April 2013, the Ministry of Justice has been told by the company that runs the portal.
QASA finally agreed after Bar Standards Board gives in over plea-only advocates
The Bar Standards Board has given way on the final outstanding issue on the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates and it is now to begin in the summer. Plea-only advocates, who had been at the centre of a major disagreement, will not have to undergo judicial assessment.
Validity of bar disciplinary decisions in question after major oversight
The validity of a large number of disciplinary findings against barristers is in question as a result of errors over the appointment of disciplinary tribunal members, it has emerged. It could allow those who have been disbarred, suspended or reprimanded to reopen their cases.
