SRA to warn firms not to enter into binding agreements with external investors yet
Law firms preparing to become alternative business structures should not enter into binding contractual agreements with prospective external owners, the Solicitors Regulation Authority is likely to warn this week.
ARP crackdown “on track”, but almost half of firms still owe premiums
Almost half of the law firms in the assigned risks pool (ARP) still owe premiums running to millions of pounds, although the ARP enforcement strategy has encouraged some to pay up, it has emerged.
Firms and chambers set for obligation to publish staff diversity data from next year
The Legal Services Board is pushing ahead with plans to require law firms and chambers to publish comprehensive diversity and class information about their staff from next year, Legal Futures has learned.
Weekly round-up: LDPs, complaints, PII, "heir hunters" and lawyer services v legal services
There is a lot to cram into this week’s round-up of other regulation and Legal Services Act stories on the web. First of all, we should direct you to Legal Futures Editor Neil Rose’s Guardian blog that just being part of the high street network should not be enough to protect law firms – access to justice cannot be judged purely by quantity.
QualitySolicitors saw “unbelievable spike” in traffic after primetime TV ad
QualitySolicitors experienced an “unbelievable spike” in web traffic and calls following its primetime television advert last week, even though it was aimed more at brand awareness than direct response, founder Craig Holt has reported.
Indemnity insurer extends quote period to 10 days, but rejects Law Society demand for 21
The Law Society has squeezed a minor concession out of the unnamed professional indemnity insurer to whom it complained about giving solicitors just seven days to accept quotes.
FoI request reveals LSB moving against reserving will-writing to lawyers
The Legal Services Board believes that reserving will-writing work to lawyers could lead to fewer people making wills and would do nothing about unfair bundling of estate administration charges, Legal Futures can reveal.
Irish JR over new overseas lawyer rules may just be “negotiating ploy”, LSB suggested
The Legal Services Board’s initial reaction to the Law Society of Ireland’s threat of legal action over the new rules for overseas lawyers requalifying as solicitors was that it might just be a “negotiating ploy”, Legal Futures can reveal.
Revealed: SRA complaints sparked Law Society guidance on “headline pricing”
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) complaints two years ago about the way some conveyancing law firms were advertising their prices led the Law Society to issue guidance last week on “headline pricing”, Legal Futures has discovered.
Irish exemption to end as transfer scheme dispute continues without resolution
There is no sign of a resolution to the Law Society of Ireland’s threat to judicially review the new Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS), meaning that from tomorrow Irish solicitors will no longer benefit from the automatic exemption that they do now. The judicial review started by the Law Society of Ireland has been stayed until 30 September.
