High Court rejects disability charity’s bid to bring anti-Jackson judicial review
The High Court has rejected a leading disability charity’s bid to judicially review the way the government consulted on implementing the Jackson reforms. The Spinal Injuries Association was supported in its action by other victims’ groups.
EU aims to train 700,000 legal professionals in European law by 2020
Around half of Europe’s 1.4m legal professionals should receive training in European law and other member states’ legal systems by 2020, the European Commission has said. It also wants all lawyers to have at least one week’s training in EU law during their careers.
Hudson to roll out Blueprint for making Law Society “fit for purpose”
An in-house division, an advocacy section and maybe even replicating the Conveyancing Quality Scheme for private client solicitors are among the items on the Law Society’s agenda as plans to reshape Chancery Lane begin to roll out, chief executive Des Hudson has revealed.
Barristers lash “out of touch” BSB over disciplinary cases
The Bar Standards Board will face a “storm of protest” over its “ridiculous” review of whether to lower the burden of proof in disciplinary cases against barristers, it has been warned. The change will “make it easier” to convict barristers where it is their word against the client’s.
Government holds firm against Jackson changes
The government has fought off amendments to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill that would have reversed the impact of the Jackson reforms on several areas of practice. It has also rejected the judge’s recent call to fund expert reports in clinical negligence cases with legal aid.
Solicitors risk “huge losses” under Jackson reforms
The national costs management pilot being rolled out next month will put law firms in danger of huge losses, a leading expert has warned. Professor Dominic Regan said costs management will place much greater emphasis and scrutiny to produce detailed and accurate budgets.
Law Society: low public awareness of QualitySolicitors supports ad campaign
Recognition of the QualitySolicitors brand is registering low among consumers, Law Society research has found, which it says justifies the efforts with its new advertising campaign to ensure the network does not appropriate the word ‘quality’.
Clarke: paying referral fees likely to be criminal offence
The ban on referral fees is likely to take the form of a criminal offence, Lord Chancellor Ken Clarke revealed yesterday. Meanwhile, Jack Straw has called for the fees payable to lawyers under the road traffic accident portal to be halved to £600.
Susskind: five years until legal market reaches “endgame”
The relationship between large law firms and general counsel is likely to evolve in three phases, with the “endgame” around five years away, Professor Richard Susskind has predicted. He also expects the large accountancy firms to return to the arena.
LexisNexis enters online legal document market
Legal publishing giant LexisNexis has become the latest entrant to the automated document assembly market with the launch of LexisSmart. It will next month be linked up to the company’s LawyerLocator referral service so that customers can seek a lawyer review of documents.
