Mayson strengthens case to expand list of reserved legal activities
There is a strong consumer protection justification for making the whole conveyancing process a reserved legal activity, Professor Stephen Mayson has argued in the final version of his influential report on the case for reservation. He said the “guarantee” of title registration is incomplete.
LSB to press ahead with forcing firms and chambers to publish staff diversity data
The Legal Services Board looks set to force legal practices to gather and publish equality and diversity data, despite concern that the policy could provoke non-compliance and create a false view of the profession because of relcutance to disclose sensitive information such as sexual orientation or religious belief.
“Perfect storm” set to slash number of conveyancing firms, says survey
Competition over fees, reduced work volumes and other worries will result in far fewer firms specialising in conveyancing in the future, a new survey has predicted. The poll of Conveyancing Association members found them anxious about the future, with alternative business structures and reduced lender panels key sources of concern.
SRA launches phone hacking investigation as Law Society seeks Leveson probe
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has launched a formal investigation into the role of solicitors in events surrounding the News of the World phone hacking scandal. Meanwhile, the Law Society has expressed “grave concern” after claims by solicitors that their phones may have been hacked by the News of the World.
Exclusive: first look at QualitySolicitors’ WHSmith presence – launching next week
QualitySolicitors’ tie-up with WHSmith goes live next week, with “Legal Access Points” going in 130 stores in the first wave, we can reveal – along with first sight of how they will look. Dozens more law firms are set to join the network this autumn, hand in hand with their LAPs in local branches of the retailer.
ILEX is first to receive LSB clean bill of health on regulatory independence
The Institute of Legal Executives is the first approved regulator to receive a clean bill of health for its internal governance arrangements for 2011. The Legal Services Board is currently reviewing the regulatory independence certificates submitted by each approved regulator where there is also a linked representative body. There is no news yet on either the Law Society or Bar Council’s certificates.
Phone hacking “obscures bigger issue” of lawyers, CMCs and others trading in data
Parliament needs to tackle lawyers, claims management companies (CMCs) and others trading in illegally obtained personal data “rather than obsessing” about phone hacking, the Information Commissioner claimed yesterday. Meanwhile, the Financial Ombudsman Service has accused some CMCs of providing a “second-rate” and even “shocking” service.
ABSs could be good move for women, BME and disabled barristers, says Bar regulator
Alternative business structures (ABSs) could be good news for women, black and minority ethnic, and disabled barristers, the Bar Standards Board has predicted, after approving rules that will allow barristers to become partners and owners of ABSs.
No more summer jobs for the boys? LSB, Law Society and Bar back interns code
The Legal Services Board (LSB), Law Society and Bar Council have thrown their weight behind a best practice code aimed at stamping out bias in granting internships and improving social mobility for disadvantaged students. Meanwhile, LSB chairman David Edmonds has criticised the idea of restricting access to training to deal with the oversupply of bar students.
Size matters – when it comes to indemnity insurance premiums at least
Size, claims record and changes to the number of fee-earners are the factors that influence law firms’ professional indemnity insurance premiums, not practice area or ethnicity, Law Society research has found. A review of the 2010 renewal season found that smaller firms found their premiums going up the most, as did those with a claims history in the previous 12 months.
