Moorhead: Law Society wrong to say there is no evidence of poor-quality advocacy
The Law Society is wrong to suggest there is no evidence of a quality problem in criminal advocacy – according to one of the academics who produced it. Professor Richard Moorhead said there were failures “unparalleled in any assessment of lawyer quality in which I have been involved”.
Co-op pilots face-to-face legal advice in branches of Britannia
The Co-operative has this week broken new ground by offering face-to-face legal services, combined with financial services advice, through the Britannia bank. The pilot could be the precuror to legal services being delivered through 350 branches of Britannia and the Co-operative Bank.
Pay inequality and discrimination at firms under spotlight in Law Society E&D review
An action plan to deal with a range of equality and diversity problems in the solicitors’ profession – from pay inequality and firms’ billing practices, to flexible working and career progression – is being drawn up within the Law Society, Legal Futures can reveal.
Solicitors make last-ditch bid to halt “unjustified” advocacy quality scheme
The Law Society has launched what appears to be a last-ditch bid to persuade the Legal Services Board to scrap the proposed scheme to assess the quality of criminal advocacy, saying there is no evidence to support the assertion that standards have fallen.
LSB slims down as members are reappointed
The Legal Services Board is to be slimmed down, and variable length terms introduced, after most of its members were reappointed. Chairman David Edmonds said he believed “we can operate at the same high level with a smaller board”.
First global claims management company presses for Libya compensation
A former City solicitor has launched what she believes is the first global claims management company in a bid to bring together businesses affected by the crisis in Libya. Nina Hall says she has already attracted $1.1bn of claims.
Research casts doubt on whether work-based learning will open up access to profession
Offering would-be solicitors – and particularly paralegals – a route to qualification that does not require a training contract may not be the way to reduce barriers to access to the profession, new research has suggested.
Cost of regulating solicitors to fall 22% as biggest 15 firms face £6.3m bill to practise
Regulation will cost solicitors 22% less this year, figures released by the Solicitors Regulation Authority have revealed. However, contributions to the compensation fund are set to soar – from £10 to £60 for individuals and £120 to £772 for firms.
SRA reignites debate over judicial assessment of advocates
The board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority today called for talks with a senior judge over concerns about the role of judges in assessing the quality of criminal law advocates.
Good news for lawyers as Court of Appeal rules on negligence limitation period
The Court of Appeal has once again declined to follow the landmark House of Lords ruling in Sephton when deciding when the limitation period starts running for the purposes of a professional negligence claim. It is a decision hailed as good news for lawyers.
