Five firms join first SRA litigation panel
Five firms have been appointed by the SRA to its first ever litigation panel: Bevan Brittan, Capsticks, Devonshires, Field Fisher Waterhouse and Russell-Cooke.
Bad points are a “good reason” to terminate retainer, says Court of Appeal
A solicitor has good reason to terminate a retainer if a client insists on putting forward a case and instructing counsel to advance contentions that they do not consider properly arguable, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Training reform gathers pace with all-in-one study and work, and accelerated LPC
Changes to the structure of solicitors’ training are beginning to gain ground after two major announcements. Northumbria University Law School has joined forces with national law firm Irwin Mitchell to pilot the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s plans for work-based learning. Meanwhile, City giant Linklaters is to introduce an accelerated legal practice course, shortening the course from a year to just over seven months.
Kenny urges local authorities to seize ABSs
The chief executive of the Legal Services Board has urged local government lawyers to seize the opportunities presented by the prospective introduction of alternative business structures in mid-2011.
Law firms face financial management duty
There should be a new core duty on financial management, along with requirements that firms disclose financial problems to their regulator, in the Solicitors Code of Conduct, the SRA has been advised.
How much should you tell clients about PII?
The Law Society has clarified to what extent solicitors should tell clients certain details about their professional indemnity insurance.
Cooper swaps in-house for her LPO provider
The in-house lawyer who made waves last year with a landmark legal process outsourcing agreement with CPA Global has now joined the outsourcing company.
India dominates LPO, but UK backing will help South Africa
India remains the top destination for legal process outsourcing (LPO), according to research by leading LPO consultancy Fronterion.
Licensed conveyancers seek litigation rights
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is set to apply to the Legal Services Board for the power to grant rights of audience and rights to conduct litigation to licensed conveyancers. It is part of a package of measures aimed at putting the CLC in the position to apply to become an alternative business structures licensing authority.
Costs draftsmen call for title protection
The Association of Law Costs Draftsmen is calling for the title of ‘law costs draftsmen’ to be protected as part of a modernisation push at the smallest of the approved regulators.
