News
SRA uses new power to publicly rebuke and fine solicitor for first time
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has used its power to fine solicitors for the first time, Legal Futures can reveal. A sole practitioner was given a written rebuke and fined £1,000 for failing to comply with an undertaking.
Consumer confusion boosts case for strict controls over unreserved work
New consumer research from the Solicitors Regulation Authority has strengthened the case for stringent controls of law firms and alternative business structures which seek to hive off unreserved legal work to an unregulated business.
MPs tell insurers to improve referral fee transparency or face government action
MPs today called on insurers to be much more transparent with policyholders about the “merry-go-round” of referral fees in their motor business – and for the government to step in if the industry fails to take action by the end of next year.
CLC warned over allowing ABSs to dodge regulation of unreserved legal work
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers’ bid to license alternative business structures could allow firms to dodge regulation of their unreserved legal work, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has warned.
Are ABSs coming to America? They may be in North Carolina
The first crack in the wall of American opposition to non-lawyer ownership of law firms has come in a bill laid before the North Carolina Senate. The bill would allow minority (up to 49%) non-lawyer ownership of legal practices.
Government under fire for closing LSB, ombudsman and consumer panel websites
The Cabinet Office has refused to confirm whether it is going ahead with shutting down the websites of the Legal Services Board, Legal Ombudsman and Legal Services Consumer Panel after a strong attack in the House of Lords last night that claimed it threatens the independence of the legal profession.
Revealed: solicitors set for poll in last-ditch bid to derail SRA as ABS regulator
Sole practitioners are set to requisition a special general meeting of the Law Society and a postal vote of all solicitors in a bid to overturn Chancery Lane’s support for alternative business structures (ABSs) and wreck the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s application to become an ABS regulator, Legal Futures can reveal.
The lawyer will see you now: is “GP Law” the future for the high street?
The future for high street lawyers is to evolve into a relationship manager who can direct clients to find the right advice from a range of legal and non-legal sources, the managing director of LexisNexis in the UK has said.
60% of people would buy legal advice from brands like Barclays, AA, Co-op and Virgin
Three in five consumers would consider buying legal services from a range of consumer brands, a major piece of market research from YouGov has revealed. The work also found low recognition of any current legal brands, while a third of consumers said they would be attracted by online legal services.
News in brief: larger firms cool on ABS, LPO boost, women suffer on pay and more
Our latest round-up of other news of interest to Legal Futures readers includes a survey of among larger firms about ABS intentions, a lay majority on the BSB, women lawyers convinced male colleagues are paid more, good news for a big LPO provider and much more.
Blog
TikTok or TikNot: Is social media working for you?
The average law firm spends around a quarter of its marketing budget on social media but sees little in return, our research found.
Tomorrow’s legal landscape: helping firms prepare for change
Law firms must constantly question the status quo and be willing to adapt. Take nothing for granted. Never say ‘we’ve always done it this way’; never say ‘we’re lawyers and we’re different’.
Succession (Season 5) – Santa looks to the future
It’s time for the annual Christmas blog from Nigel Wallis, consultant at Legal Futures Associate O’Connors Legal Services.
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