News


Government to ban referral fees in personal injury – but not conveyancing

9 September 2011

The government is to ban referral fees for personal injury work, it announced today. However, it has no plans to take action on referral fees paid to estate agents for conveyancing. The intention is for a regulatory offence, enforced by the relevant regulators


SRA: don’t blame us for ABS delay

8 September 2011

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has strenuously denied it was responsible for the slippage of the timetable for licensing alternative business structures. On Tuesday, Professor Stephen Mayson accused regulators of failing the market.


Law Society to hand over solicitor data in bid to negate need for lender panel fees

8 September 2011

The Law Society will next month begin sharing information about conveyancing solicitors with a lender as part of moves to discourage lenders from charging a compliance fee for firms that want to be on their panels. Meanwhile, standard mortgage instructions for solicitors acting just for lenders should be released in early 2012.


Fixed fees more important to clients than brand names, says major research

7 September 2011

Clients view fixed fees and online access to the progress of their case – but not brand names – as key elements of legal services they would buy, according to unique new research, while law firms are waiting for competitors to close under pressure from ABSs and legal aid.


Mayson: ABS implementation has become “something of a shambles”

7 September 2011

The implementation of alternative business structures has become “something of a shambles”, Professor Stephen Mayson said yesterday. He accused regulators of failing the “new entrants, new capital and entrepreneurial law firms” poised to take advantage of the new regime.


General counsel eyeing legal services “production line”, Oxford research finds

7 September 2011

The spiralling costs of legal services is prompting some leading general counsel to consider a “production line” approach to handling legal work, with more companies looking to go offshore or in-house, according to new research from an Oxford professor.


Retain legal aid for clinical negligence, urges Jackson – with swipe at the Law Society

6 September 2011

Lord Justice Jackson yesterday called on the government not to withdraw legal aid from clinical negligence work. He also criticised the Law Society for conducting a single campaign against the legal aid cuts and his reforms of civil costs “as if they are a composite package”.


Bid to shut down will-writing companies as LSB launches regulation evidence call

6 September 2011

The Insolvency Service last week presented petitions to wind up three will-writing businesses. The news comes as the Legal Services Board issues a call for evidence on whether to make will-writing, the entire probate process and estate administration reserved legal activities.


Big retailers join Jackson lobbying group as MPs resume scrutiny of reforms

5 September 2011

The war of words over the Jackson reforms restarted today ahead of MPs resuming scrutiny of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill tomorrow. The Association of British Insurers has put together a ‘consortium for compensation reform’ made up of 16 leading retailers and business groups.


“Disproportionate” money laundering compliance rules cost big firms up to £1.3m

5 September 2011

Compliance with “disproportionate” anti-money laundering rules costs the largest law firms as much as £1.3m each a year, the Law Society has claimed. Responding to a Treasury consultation, the society backed the option of abolishing all criminal sanctions under the 2007 Money Laundering Regulations.

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