News

Responses to the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) legal education and training framework have revealed broad opposition to its proposal to invoke statutory powers to ensure frontline regulators fall into line behind the LSB’s vision.

An English law firm yesterday launched a home-grown online documents service that it claimed is the first product with the potential to rival those from the US legal document processing giants Rocket Lawyer and Legal Zoom.

An online legal service aimed at small businesses yesterday launched its second round of ‘crowdfunding’ in less than a year, while awaiting an alternative business structure (ABS) licence with a view to obtaining further equity.

Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners members will have to abide by a code of practice when they write wills, part of an attempt by the society to fill the regulatory vacuum.

The Law Society is targeting a fresh attack on before-the-event legal expenses insurers by seeking out a test case that aims to loosen their grip on policyholders’ choice of solicitor, it has emerged. The news comes as the Office of Fair Trading called for improvements in the way insurers sell the product.

The continuing tension between the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority has been exposed by the revelation that the society brought in PwC to help improve “collaborative working” between the two – but that the SRA has rejected some of the accountants’ recommendations.

The Legal Ombudsman has successfully fought off two judicial reviews against its decisions, with a further five currently going through the court process, Legal Futures can reveal. The SRA has also fought off the two JRs of its new qualified lawyer transfer scheme.

Our regular round-up includes reports that Admiral is considering becoming an ABS, the SRA starting work on the referral fee ban, Labour’s latest LASPO amendments, the Information Commissioner mulling powers to force law firm audits, and a warning over getting involved in land-banking.

A contingent legal aid fund (CLAF) has merit but its viability cannot be assessed until the Jackson reforms settle down, a Bar Council-commissioned report has concluded. Consultants Europe Economics, backed by the Bar Council, called on the government to back the concept.

The government has rejected a call by MPs to extend the proposed ban on referral fees beyond personal injury work – but a senior backbencher has predicted that it will have to return to the issue.