The future for personal injury practice set to become clearer today
Personal injury lawyers will today get a stronger vision of the future of their practices when the Ministry of Justice unveils the way forward on its reform of civil litigation costs. Lord Chancellor Ken Clarke will make a statement today outlining its response to the green paper consultation. Check back on Legal Futures after 3.30pm.
Treasury to scrap money laundering offences
The government intends to abolish more than 24 regulatory offences under the money laundering regulations, the Treasury has revealed. It is also working with some of the largest City law firms and other major services providers to launch a “log of professional readiness” that will help school leavers and undergraduates prepare to apply for jobs in the City.
Extending PI claims process by next April cannot be done, says portal chief
Government plans to extend the electronic claims portal to cover all fast-track personal injury claims cannot be achieved by the deadline of next April, the man likely to be charged with doing it has told Legal Futures.
Getting debt management right
In the first of a regular series of articles from the Institute of Legal Finance and Management (formerly the Institute of Legal Cashiers and Administrators), Lisa Dixon outlines the strategies law firms should be adopting to ensure they manage their debts properly
SGM threat recedes as SRA refutes suggestions that it changed ABS stance
The Solicitor Sole Practitioners Group has backed away from its threat to call a special general meeting and postal vote of the profession to gauge support for alternative business structures (ABSs). Meanwhile, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has refuted suggestions that it shifted position on how it will regulate ABSs ahead of this week’s Law Society vote.
LeO has first vexatious complainant – and its own complaints ombudsman
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has identified its first vexatious complainant, it emerged last night – but it is a lawyer, not a member of the public. It has also appointed former Financial Services Ombudsman Walter Merricks to adjudicate on complaints over LeO’s own service.
Clients to push law firm engagment with social media, says survey
A large majority of law firms believe they need to devote resources to social media because clients will increasingly be influenced by the strength of their presence in the sector, according to a survey.
SRA agrees compromises to help ABS application through council vote
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has compromised on aspects of its application to become an alternative business structure regulator, it emerged last night. Agreement was reached between the society and its regulatory arm on various changes to the application which the SRA’s board agreed last week.
Breaking news: Law Society council gives green light to SRA regulating ABSs
The Law Society council has today approved the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s application to become a regulator of alternative business structures. It means the SRA should be ready to start taking applications from prospective ABSs from 6 August.
Anti-ABS group could decide as soon as tomorrow on calling Law Society SGM
The Solicitor Sole Practitioners Group could decide tomorrow whether to seek a special general meeting of the Law Society that would authorise a profession-wide poll on solicitors’ opposition to alternative business structures.
