Pannone launches “white label” division targeting new entrants to the legal market
Manchester firm Pannone is to target big businesses with a white label legal services offering, it announced today. From next week it is pulling all of its white label services into a standalone and separately branded division – Affinity Solutions – to partner with organisations with a large customer base.
Revised QAA will allow advocates to progress without judicial evaluations
Advocates seeking accreditation under the quality assurance for advocates (QAA) scheme will be allowed to opt for an assessment centre route rather than judges’ evaluations alone, under new proposals being debated today.
ABSs increasingly dominating lawyers’ thoughts but profitability is a concern
More than three-quarters of law firms have changed their plans to reflect the coming of alternative business structures, but firms seeking to attract investors will have to develop credible growth strategies. Neil Kinsella, managing partner of Russell Jones & Walker, said his firm had already begun to draw up a list of potential law firm acquisitions.
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.
