Law Society revokes 200 solicitors' accreditation scheme membership
The Law Society has recently revoked the membership of 200 members of its accreditation schemes, it has revealed. The society was responding to the surprise expressed last week that it had not appeared to expel anyone from any accreditation scheme over the past five years.
New funder targets smaller disputes with fee structure unrelated to damages
A new third-party litigation funder enters the market today promising to target far lower-value commercial disputes than other providers, and not take a percentage of damages as its fee – with a professional negligence expert warning that lawyers could face legal action for not considering their clients’ funding options.
Regional accountancy firm unveils plan to become ABS
A regional firm of accountants is planning to become an alternative business structure (ABS). Becoming an ABS will allow Spofforths to improve the private client service currently provided by an in-house legal team and in time become a legal brand in its local market.
Peers bid to introduce statutory control of third-party "capture" and tighten up referral fee ban
Peers have launched a bid to curb third-party capture of potential claimants by insurance companies, and also spell out the proposed referral fee ban in greater detail – while carving out an exception for payments to provide a pooled marketing service.
SRA extends PC renewal into 2012
Some solicitors will now not be able to go online to renew their practising certificates until 2012, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has confirmed, amid the chaotic ongoing implementation of its £22m IT system. The deadline to activate mySRA accounts will also be extended.
Consumer panel: strip incompetent QCs of their rank as part of bid to improve quality marks
QCs should lose their title if they fall below an acceptable standard, the Legal Services Consumer Panel suggested today in a report that calls on legal bodies that run voluntary quality schemes to improve checks on lawyers’ continuing competence so as to boost consumer confidence.
Jackson: litigators should use third-party funders signed up to new code of conduct
Solicitors should advise clients to enter funding agreements with third-party litigation funders that sign up to a new voluntary code of conduct, Lord Justice Jackson said last night. He welcomed publication of the code and creation of the Association of Litigation Funders to monitor compliance with it.
Licensed conveyancers unveil rival to CQS amid warning that lenders are becoming backdoor regulators
The body representing licensed conveyancers has launched a quality assurance scheme uniquely linked to their regulator in a bid to help detect mortgage fraud. The move by the Society of Licensed Conveyancers goes significantly further than the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme.
"Growing lobby" to stop use of ABSs to get around referral fee ban
There is a “growing lobby” to stop claims management companies, solicitors and insurers from using alternative business structures to get around the ban on referral fees, it was claimed yesterday. Insurers were also asked to be honest about whether motor premiums will go down after the ban.
Scrap qualified one-way costs-shifting, says Allianz
Plans to introduce qualified one-way costs-shifting (QOCS) in personal injury litigation should be scrapped, one of the country’s leading insurance companies has told Legal Futures. Allianz – the first insurer to back away from an aspect of the Jackson reforms – found support from a top claimant lawyer.
