City firm develops technology alternative to legal process outsourcing
City law firm Taylor Wessing has launched a division offering pioneering technology to handle data mining, contract management and due diligence as a “value-added” alternative to legal process outsourcing.
Post-qualification competence in spotlight as first review of CPD in 25 years is launched
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has announced the first research into continuing professional development in the legal profession for a quarter of a century. As first reported by Legal Futures in February, it has appointed Professor Andrew Boon of Westminster University to conduct the research.
SRA poised to mystery shop conveyancing firms over fees and publicity
The Solicitors Regulation Authority could “mystery shop” conveyancing firms to check whether their costs information and publicity about charges are misleading, it has revealed. At the same time, the Legal Services Board announced that it is to consider a major review of conveyancing.
We want external capital, says Irwin Mitchell
Irwin Mitchell today became the first major law firm to announce its intention to seek external investment. The Sheffield-headquartered national practice has appointed Espirito Santo Investment Bank as its financial adviser to review the options.
Legal professional privilege fight set to go all the way to Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is set to rule on the limits of legal professional privilege, it has emerged. The court has granted Prudential permission to appeal the Court of Appeal’s judgment last October, which unanimously confirmed that privilege only applies to solicitors and barristers.
Customer experience will be the success factor for firms in the future, says survey
Customer experience will largely define the success of legal providers in the post Legal Services Act world, according to a survey of delegates at last week’s Legal Futures Conference. Understading the client is vital but doing it will be difficult for some firms, the survey found.
Do ABSs and Jackson make you want to get out of PI? This site will arrange it in a month
A new website called “We buy any files” is keen to acquire business from practices looking to shed personal injury work ahead of alternative business structures and the Jackson reforms. Meanwhile, a survey of consumers has highlighted dissatisfaction with the PI claims system, and leading legal expenses insurer DAS has hit back at yesterday’s report on BTE insurance.
News in brief: honest feedback for LeO, law firm finances, LPO survey and much more
Our regular round-up of snippets of news that you need to know takes in the Legal Ombudsman, conveyancing, financial difficulties for law firms, a shortfall of LPC graduates, the first divorce app, new members for LawNet, an LPO survey, the new Law Society deputy vice-president, and Expert Answers’ affiliate programme.
Consumer watchdog calls on SRA to probe referral fees and conflicts of interest in BTE
The Solicitors Regulation Authority should investigate the practice of panels of solicitors taking cases from before-the-event legal expenses insurers on a conditional fee basis after paying referral fees, a consumer watchdog has argued.
ABI blasts “timid” SRA for inadequate indemnity insurance reforms
Proposals from the “timid” Solicitors Regulation Authority to reform the market for professional indemnity insurance are inadequate and will only worsen already fears for the future of the market, the Association of British Insurers has warned. However, the SRA’s blueprint has been welcomed by the Law Society and the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
