LexisNexis enters online legal document market
Legal publishing giant LexisNexis has become the latest entrant to the automated document assembly market with the launch of LexisSmart. It will next month be linked up to the company’s LawyerLocator referral service so that customers can seek a lawyer review of documents.
Listed conveyancing service In-deed "struggling to convert quotes into clients"
In-deed, the AIM-listed online conveyancing service, may alter its business model after struggling to convert quotes into instructions, its chairman has revealed. Nonetheless, it is preparing to move into wills next year and planning a television advertising campaign.
Doors open to first wave of ABS applicants
The first wave of alternative business structures is on the way after the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) opened its doors for applications. The CLC will be able to start licensing ABSs from 6 October.
Government to ban referral fees in personal injury – but not conveyancing
The government is to ban referral fees for personal injury work, it announced today. However, it has no plans to take action on referral fees paid to estate agents for conveyancing. The intention is for a regulatory offence, enforced by the relevant regulators
SRA: don’t blame us for ABS delay
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has strenuously denied it was responsible for the slippage of the timetable for licensing alternative business structures. On Tuesday, Professor Stephen Mayson accused regulators of failing the market.
Law Society to hand over solicitor data in bid to negate need for lender panel fees
The Law Society will next month begin sharing information about conveyancing solicitors with a lender as part of moves to discourage lenders from charging a compliance fee for firms that want to be on their panels. Meanwhile, standard mortgage instructions for solicitors acting just for lenders should be released in early 2012.
Fixed fees more important to clients than brand names, says major research
Clients view fixed fees and online access to the progress of their case – but not brand names – as key elements of legal services they would buy, according to unique new research, while law firms are waiting for competitors to close under pressure from ABSs and legal aid.
Mayson: ABS implementation has become “something of a shambles”
The implementation of alternative business structures has become “something of a shambles”, Professor Stephen Mayson said yesterday. He accused regulators of failing the “new entrants, new capital and entrepreneurial law firms” poised to take advantage of the new regime.
General counsel eyeing legal services “production line”, Oxford research finds
The spiralling costs of legal services is prompting some leading general counsel to consider a “production line” approach to handling legal work, with more companies looking to go offshore or in-house, according to new research from an Oxford professor.
Retain legal aid for clinical negligence, urges Jackson – with swipe at the Law Society
Lord Justice Jackson yesterday called on the government not to withdraw legal aid from clinical negligence work. He also criticised the Law Society for conducting a single campaign against the legal aid cuts and his reforms of civil costs “as if they are a composite package”.
