Legal Services Act

The vast majority of clients are happy with the services they receive, according to the largest ever legal needs survey, but only 55% of those with legal issues actually sought out professional advice.

Those already using reservation agreements say they are improving the home-buying process, it has been claimed, although the public and industry are split on whether they will work.

The name for the new whiplash portal was released yesterday as registration formally opened, amid warnings from insurance lawyers that motor fraud is moving into other areas.

Productivity in the legal services sector rose by 17% in the five years from 2013 to 2018, a report by accountants KPMG for the Law Society has found.

The Legal Services Board has launched a call for evidence on continuing competence, the first stage in a promised review of the issue that could lead to periodic checks on lawyers’ fitness to practise.

The High Court has granted declarations that an online service has not broken conflict of interest rules or the Legal Services Act by helping divorcing couples draft their own documents and not use lawyers.

Leading insurance law firm Keoghs – which has enjoyed private equity investment for seven years – is to be bought by a private equity-backed professional services and technology business.

Experienced barristers are largely confident for their own futures but face challenges around wellbeing, the rising cost of doing business and the late payment of fees, a major survey has found.

The Ministry of Justice continues to insist that the whiplash reforms will come into force in April, even though the rules which will enable lawyers and compensators to prepare have still not been published.

Reforms to the regulation of legal services proposed by an independent review would lead to a “massively uncertain and costly system”, the president of the Law Society has said.