Bar Council chief urges barristers to embrace direct instructions from the public
Barristers need to grasp the opportunities offered by direct access for the public, which will also help them bid for legal aid contracts, the chairman of the Bar Council has urged. Peter Lodder QC said the “critical importance” of public access is underlined by the proposed legal aid cuts.
Cost of SRA compliance “forcing small firms to close”, says Law Society survey
More than one in ten small law firms questioned in a massive survey of solicitors plan to close down or merge as a result of the cost of complying with regulatory obligations, Law Society research has revealed.
Legal comparison websites struggling to reconcile fixed fees with “reality of law”
The challenge for legal price comparison sites is to reconcile the public’s desire for an instant quote and fixed fees “with the reality that many areas of law are complex, lengthy, unpredictable, and, as such, cannot be achieved on a fixed-fee basis”, a Law Society report has concluded.
New legal regulator takes the reins
The professional standards of costs lawyers will in future be independently assured after the Costs Lawyer Standards Board this week became their approved regulator. They can become partners in LDPs and are within the Legal Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.
Performance in the spotlight as big firm partners get more pay or de-equitised
Large law firms are focusing more on partner performance, new research has found, with a greater share of profits for those who perform well in the current financial year, but demotion for those who do not.
Clarke accuses lawyers of lobbying over legal aid and Jackson to protect profits
The justice secretary yesterday accused lawyers of lobbying for their own financial interests as MPs rejected amendments to the Jackson and legal aid reforms going through Parliament. A bid to halve the RTA portal fee was rejected but action on the issue promised.
Law firm that sent intimidating letters to alleged file-sharers accepts SRA reprimand
A law firm has escaped with a reprimand after being found by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to have breached professional practice rules in connection with intimidating letters sent to alleged Internet file sharers. It is the third firm to face SRA action over this.
Co-op to move into family law after hiring high-profile solicitors
Co-operative Legal Services has issued a major signal of intent by recruiting two leading solicitors to launch a family law service next year: Jenny Beck and Christina Blacklaws of TV Edwards, who both hold significant roles in the profession.
MPs reject Straw’s bid to back up referral fee ban with criminal sanctions
MPs last night rejected a bid by former justice secretary Jack Straw to make paying referral fees in personal injury cases a criminal offence. Debated during the report stage of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, they voted 302 to 208 against.
Satellite litigation over Jackson reforms inevitable, industry leaders told
Satellite litigation over the Jackson reforms is inevitable – and may not be a bad thing, a gathering of the leading figures in legal costs and funding heard this week. Legal Futures had exclusive access to the event, held to discuss implementation of the reforms.
