Practice Management
BSB and IPS to launch joint youth advocacy review
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) and ILEX Professional Standards (IPS) are contacting research organisations to prepare the way for an independent review of advocacy in the youth courts.
APIL makes successful complaint over “misleading” Hampson Hughes advert
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has successfully complained about an advertisement broadcast by high-profile Liverpool law firm Hampson Hughes that said claimants would receive £2,000 “up front”.
Lower indemnity limit would “attract discount in premiums”, SRA insists
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has insisted that a lower minimum limit for indemnity insurance would “attract a discount in premiums” for law firms as it sought to counter widespread criticism of its plans.
Information Commissioner sounds alarm over lawyers’ handling of personal data
The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued a warning to solicitors and barristers over the need to keep personal information secure, especially paper files, in the wake of “a number of data breaches” in recent months.
Rated insurers “may be reluctant” to offer lower indemnity limits
Rated insurers may be reluctant to offer law firms indemnity limits as low as the £500,000 proposed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), a leading insurance broker has warned.
Solicitor turns to crowdfunding to back online contracts business
A young solicitor entrepreneur is seeking crowdfunding for an online documents business that will offer instant contracts via a mobile app and alert customers by e-mail to relevant law changes.
SRA calls for evidence as indemnity deadline approaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a call for evidence on its indemnity insurance reforms, as the Legal Services Board (LSB) continues its deliberations on whether or not to approve a cut in the minimum cover limit.
Sole practitioners warn of “dire consequences” if indemnity limit is cut
Sole practitioners have warned of “dire consequences” if the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) goes ahead with its plans to cut the minimum limit for indemnity cover from £2m to £500,000.
VouchedFor aims for 1,000 solicitors
Financial adviser rating and review website VouchedFor has said it is aiming to sign up 1,000 solicitors in the next few weeks.
Consumer panel hits back over SRA ‘double standards’ claim
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has hit back at criticism by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) that it opposes a minimum indemnity insurance limit of £500,000 for solicitors, while supporting it for accountants.
Indemnity cover cut ignores ‘increasing’ number of larger claims
The number of larger professional indemnity claims is increasing, undermining the case for a cut in the minimum cover for law firms from £2m to £500,000, an industry expert has argued in a letter to the Legal Services Board.
‘Accountants have £500,000 indemnity limit, so why can’t we?’ SRA asks LSB
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has reminded the Legal Services Board (LSB) of its decision to allow accountancy firms wanting to carry out legal work to have minimum indemnity insurance cover of £500,000, in a bid to head off concerns about its move to reduce the level for solicitors.
Internet overtakes friends and family as main way to find a solicitor
Clients are significantly more likely to find a solicitor through the internet than by asking friends or family, a major study of over 2,000 people has found.
‘QS Price Promise’ to launch in September
QualitySolicitors is to launch its ‘QS Price Promise’ in September, combined with a national TV advertising campaign, the network has revealed. It is also changing its approach to firms having to adopt the QS name.
BSB follows SRA in backing £500,000 indemnity limit for firms
The Bar Standards Board has followed the Solicitors Regulation Authority and proposed that the advocacy and litigation firms it hopes to regulate later this year should have indemnity cover of at least £500,000.
Blog
What the Equality Act adds to a housing claim
For those working across housing disrepair, there is a danger in viewing every case primarily through the condition of the property.
The SRA and privileged material – this is not the end
All disclosure to the SRA must now exclude privileged material, which will not only hamper investigations but also cause additional work for firms providing disclosure.
Legal Ombudsman fee reforms risk widening the justice gap
Charging firms simply because a complaint moves through the process weakens the present connection between fees and fault. It could also encourage firms to settle for commercial reasons.
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