News

This week’s round-up of other relevant news and comment on the web takes in reaction to our story on an aptitude test for LPC students, Professor Richard Susskind’s thoughts ahead of an updated version of his book coming out, fears of big financial pressures on law firms, a survey that shows solicitors think too much of their own reputation, and much more.

Every chambers in England and Wales is to be quizzed on their approach to equality and diversity as part of a new monitoring scheme being rolled out by the Bar Standards Board. The 791 chambers (of which 391 are registered as sole practitioners) are also to face questions on how they handle complaints, their policies on pupillage, and compliance with anti-money laundering rules.

There is a £15bn market in consumer and small business legal services and big brands “have the potential to dominate” it in the future, a senior representative of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) said this week.

Some of the biggest brand names in the UK will shortly have access to a legal advice and assistance package for their customers costing around £50 a year, Legal Futures can reveal. CPP Group plc, which provides services via over 200 businesses worldwide – including Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Barclays and HSBC – has developed a product which will give consumers access to everyday consumer advice, a range of legal services, and relevant membership discounts and offers.

The High Court has granted the first order requiring a third party to provide the Solicitors Regulation Authority with information, it has emerged. SRA papers reveal that the High Court granted the order against a bank to assist in a serious and continuing investigation.

Lawyers will have a maximum of eight weeks to resolve complaints before the Legal Ombudsman will agree to investigate, the new service has confirmed, but it may ask them why they did not deal with them even quicker.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders is investigating the case for making title insurance compulsory for all conveyancing transactions, it has emerged, as a Law Society committee said it should be looked at as a way to reduce solicitors’ professional indemnity insurance premiums.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been forced “under duress” to approve a rule change under which solicitors will have to inform existing clients of their right to complain to the Legal Ombudsman, despite efforts to persuade the Legal Services Board to change its position.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to revisit at its next meeting the question of whether to relax its rules on preparations in advance of the launch of alternative business structures next October.

A range of law firms and commercial interests have been wining and dining representatives of the Legal Services Board (LSB), according to information released to Legal Futures under the Freedom of Information Act.