News

The reasons why one law firm succeeds while another doing similar work fails, boil down to knowing your market, committing to your sector and its clients, and the partners’ contribution, according to a legal thinktank.

Lord Falconer, who as Lord Chancellor steered the Legal Services Act through Parliament, last week warned about the challenges alternative business structures provide for “the preservation of legal ethics”.

Four out of ten barristers’ chambers have flouted a regulatory requirement to notify lay clients of their rights to complain about poor service, amid a continuing furore over difficulties in complying with the scheme, it has emerged. Meanwhile, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has confirmed that solicitors are under no obligation to assist barristers in contacting clients directly in order to meet their obligations.

The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) is to show its claws for the first time by seeking a court order to force a solicitor to provide access to documents, it has emerged. It will be the first use of LeO’s powers under the Legal Services Act.

Two-thirds of barristers’ chambers which provide legal services to the Crown Prosecution Service are failing to meet equality and diversity standards, it has emerged in the first survey of its kind. Speaking at a Bar Standards Board event, Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, said he supported the BSB’s desire to make its diversity rules obligatory.

QualitySolicitors chief executive Craig Holt explains why lawyers need their eyes testing if they underestimate the impact of the Legal Services Act, and how QS aims to build a 30-40% market share.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority urgently needs to provide more guidance on the role of the compliance officer for legal practice (COLP), which every law firm will be required to have from October, a leading legal regulation specialist has warned.

A bid to create the first solicitors franchise was launched this week. Face2Face Solicitors is initially aimed at small private client law firms and will provide franchisee solicitors with centralised back-office systems – including accounts, IT and regulatory compliance – and central marketing and business development, to enable them to focus on the legal work.

Former Law Society president Ed Nally was today appointed to the Legal Services Board (LSB) to fill a vacancy that has been open for more than a year. Meanwhile, the Solicitors Regulation Authority is to cut around 80 jobs as it prepares for outcomes-focused regulation and the licensing of alternative business structures from 6 October 2011.

Defendant action is a factor in at least one in four of delayed civil cases, and costs six times more than other causes of delay, the leading legal costs academic has claimed.