Prospect of MDPs "catching the imagination" of large law firms, survey finds
Large law firms are showing increasing interest in forming multi-disciplinary practices with non-lawyer professionals, according to new research. The survey of 126 of the top 250 firms by accountants Smith & Williamson found that a third are interested in joining with a non-legal practice.
Quality scheme risks independence of advocates, leading judge warns
The proposed Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates threatens the independence of advocates, a senior judge claimed yesterday. Lord Justice Moses argued that quality of advocacy is best assured through compulsory training and more active reporting of poor advocates by judges.
News round-up: barrister jailed for chambers theft, another mySRA extension, and much more
Our latest news round-up reports on a barrister jailed after stealing £72,500 from his chambers, more problems with the SRA’s online PC renewal system, surveys on fixed fees and compliance, and the appeal court upholding a ruling against a firm innocently caught up in mortgage fraud.
Pass the parcel: should you indemnify your COLP?
Allison Wooddisse, head of LexisPSL Practice Compliance, looks at the whether and how law firms should indemnify COLPs against adverse consequences from taking on the role. Many COLPs are feeling jumpy but an indemnity is not as straightforward as it may appear.
LSB rebuffs US and European concerns as IMF bids to make bailout countries reform legal professions
The Legal Services Board has stepped into the controversy around the International Monetary Fund’s push to make countries receiving financial bailouts reform their legal professions as part of the deal.
Google-backed US online legal service to open up UK lawyer panel next month
Rocket Lawyer, the Google-backed US online legal document service, is on track to launch in the UK later this year, with lawyers set to be offered the chance to join its panel from next month, Legal Futures can reveal.
Government county court reforms assailed from all sides
The government’s plans to reform the county courts have attracted criticism from both claimant and defendant lawyers as well as costs specialists – albeit for different reasons, with the lack of detail a particular bugbear.
Solicitors “sitting on sizeable tax rebates”
Conveyancers will soon be responsible for making commercial clients aware of capital allowances reports and should be careful not to be caught out or risk a negligence action, a tax expert has warned.
Government lays out cautious approach to extending fixed-fee system across personal injury
The government is to take an unexpectedly cautious approach to extending the road traffic accident portal regime and has ditched the idea of mandatory pre-action directions, it announced today.
APIL to float last-ditch Jackson compromise
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers will next week launch a final attempt to challenge the Jackson reforms by setting out a new negotiating position that drops outright opposition to the changes. However, defendant lawyers rebuffed any suggestion of compromise.
