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The Bar Standards Board has rejected suggestions that its application to become an alternative business structure licensing authority will unnecessarily restrict the extent of non-lawyer ownership and so have a detrimental effect on competition.

Pure Legal, the alternative business structure set up by former head of Quindell Legal Services Phil Hodgkinson, has announced its first purchase of a law firm. Pure has bought Pryers, a medical negligence specialist based in York, for £13m.

A soldier turned solicitor has set up an alternative business structure with a former special forces officer. Proelium Law aims to provide commercial law, international law and security advice to businesses and other organisations wanting to operate in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Bar Standards Board has reported that its annual income is expected to plummet by almost a quarter (24%) by the end of this financial year, with the smaller than expected number of firms or ‘entities’ that had sought its oversight contributing significantly to the shortfall.

Lawyers got something of a dressing down last week from Rocket Lawyer boss Mark Edwards. Mr Edwards said lawyers were not “great innovators” and not much would change while most firms were run entirely by lawyers. He was speaking in a small, cramped room in a basement of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills – possibly reflecting the BIS view of legal services, but hopefully not.