New websites aid solicitors seeking barristers, and consumers seeking solicitors they can trust
A new service has been launched that allows solicitors to contact numerous sets of barristers chambers simultaneously to check what counsel are available for a case they are looking to cover. Meanwhile, another online service aimed at helping consumers find tradesmen is now targeting the legal market.
Fixed-share partners are partners and not employees, Court of Appeal confirms
A former fixed-share partner at south-coast law firm Lester Aldridge has lost his appeal against a ruling that he was a partner and not an employee in the limited liability partnership and so unable to claim unfair dismissal.
SRA calls on government to provide more clarity over referral fee ban
The government needs to provide further clarity and guidance on how the ban on referral fees will operate in practice, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned. Issues such as the definition of a referral fee need to be resolved.
News in brief: solicitors, accountants and IFAs join forces, "ABSs are future for conveyancing", and more
Our latest news round-up takes in an innovative partnership to combine financial, taxation and legal advice, an update on ABS applications, the role for ABSs in the conveyancing market, growing fraud claims against solicitors, support for provisional assessment, and new blood at the OLC.
"Pessimistic" barristers lukewarm about ABSs
Barristers are showing only “cautious interest” in alternative business structures, although they are keener on barrister-only entities, according to a major survey released yesterday. It also found a “worrying lack of optimisim” in the profession.
Implementation of Jackson reforms pushed back to April 2013
The government has pushed back implementation of the Jackson reforms and the referral fee ban to April 2013, it announced yesterday. However, it knocked back all amendments to key elements of the reforms during a House of Lords debate.
RJW sets sights on dominating consumer legal market
Russell Jones & Walker aims to use its new access to capital to become one of the two or three players that will “dominate” the consumer legal market in the years to come, its chief executive has said.
Goodbye Fellows, hello Chartered Legal Executives
The Institute of Legal Executives was formally presented with its Royal Charter yesterday, transforming Fellows of the Institute into Chartered Legal Executives. The charter protects the title of ILEX members for the first time.
Slater & Gordon to enter UK market with £54m purchase of Russell Jones & Walker
The world’s first listed legal practice, Australia’s Slater & Gordon, is to enter the UK market after agreeing to buy national law firm Russell Jones & Walker for £53.8 million. All of RJW’s principals will continue to work in the new business and are becoming shareholders in S&G.
Long-standing relationship with a client does not mean a continuing retainer, High Court rules
Solicitors who have a long-standing relationship with a client and receive many instructions are not under an implied general retainer to keep under review all previous advice and drafting, the High Court has ruled.
