SRA to roll out relationship management to all big firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to roll out supervision of large City and national law firms through relationship management after a successful pilot. The year-long pilot also highlighted outsourcing as an issue to which the SRA needs to pay particular attention.
Innovation and teamwork are “key to ABS survival”
Creativity and collaboration should be the priority for law firms looking to fend off the threats from a liberated legal market, with joint ventures, referral networks and share offerings all possible solutions, last week’s Legal Futures conference was told.
News in brief: SRA renewals delay, referral fee “ignorance”, and much more
Our regular round-up of news you need to know includes the appeal court quashing an ILEX disciplinary ruling, delays for solicitors renewing practising certificates, a survey of young drivers on referral fees, a survey finding support for outsourcing and much more besides.
“Inexcusable” ABS delay could cost law firms dear, corporate finance expert warns
The “inexcusable delay” in enabling the Solicitors Regulatory Authority to start licensing alternative business structures could make private investors think twice about entering the legal sector, the Legal Futures conference heard this week.
Legal aid bill timetable on track as judge warns of return to the costs war
The legal aid and Jackson reforms should come into force in October 2012, justice minister Jonathan Djanogly confirmed yesterday, as Labour launched a bid to make paying a referral fee a criminal offence punishable by up to six months in prison.
Jackson backs ACL’s progress in reforming the way solicitors bill their costs
Lord Justice Jackson has urged an Association of Costs Lawyers working group looking at a new way of presenting solicitors’ costs to continue its work “with all due expedition”. It says costs should be presented by reference to ‘phases, tasks and activities’.
Law Society to revive annual conference
The Law Society is to resuscitate its annual conference next year, hoping to attract at least 300 people to Celtic Manor in Wales and make a decent profit from it. The conference was stopped several years ago because it was losing money.
QualitySolicitors hits the big time as PE investor buys majority stake
QualitySolicitors has received a major cash injection that will accelerate the nationwide expansion of its brand, after private equity house Palamon Capital Partners took a majority stake. The plan is to have over 1,000 branches by the end of next year.
Government rejects profession’s call for convictions check on all ABS partners
The government has rejected a call from the legal profession that partners in alternative business structures should have to disclose all convictions and cautions, even if spent. But the SRA is still on track to start licensing ABSs in early 2012.
Law Society recognises Legal365 for helping firm be “ready to compete”
The law firm behind Legal365 – the online legal service that is set to expand into a chain of city-centre high street shops – last night received the Law Society award for excellence in innovation. Last Cawthra Feather was recognised for a service that is “ready to compete in the new emerging legal services market”.
