Tag Results
Fresh cab-rank rule row as LSB approves public access reforms
Tuesday, 2 April 2013The Legal Services Board has criticised the Bar Standards Board’s failure to apply the cab-rank rule to public access work and said this omission will reduce the impact of rule changes that widen the scope for barristers dealing directly with clients.
Tags: Bar Council, bar standards board, cab rank rule, legal aid, Legal Services Act, Legal Services Board, public access
Posted in Barristers, Latest news, Legal Services Board
PI firms outperform all others and are keenest on ABSs, finds ‘state of the nation’ survey
Thursday, 17 January 2013Personal injury firms have weathered the recession better than any other area of practice – and are far more likely to be looking for external investment than any other as well, one of the largest-ever surveys of solicitors’ firms has found. It said employment, family and corporate / commercial specialists also performed better than average.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, external investment, family law, Law Society, legal aid, Legal Services Board, personal injury
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Legal Services Board, Market monitor
From cost centre to profit centre: FTSE 250 company eyes ABS as it offers paralegal service to others
Monday, 3 December 2012The outsourcing arm of FTSE 250 construction company Carillion could become an alternative business structure (ABS) as it looks to grow its advice services team beyond in-house and legal aid work, it has emerged.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, in-house lawyers, legal aid, legal process outsourcing, outsourcing
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Market monitor
In brief: latest ABS, Co-op wins contract, top firms “don’t want” external cash, SRA race probe
Thursday, 29 November 2012Our regular round-up of important news nuggets includes the newest SRA-licensed ABS, an advice contract for the Co-op, a survey of top firms on how they are changing, a probe of SRA files to identify any racial discrimination, heavy fine for spam texters and much more.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, Co-op, COFA, COLP, compliance officer for finance and administration, compliance officer for legal practice, equality and diversity, external investment, Intellectual Property Regulation Board, IPReg, legal aid, legal disciplinary practice, legal process outsourcing, probate, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in hrtraining, Latest news, Marketing & PR, News In Brief, Outsourcing
Law centre submits ABS application as not-for-profit sector gears up for legal aid cuts
Monday, 5 November 2012A north London law centre is on course to become the first owner of a not-for-profit alternative business structure, subject to receiving approval. The venture is an example of government-approved efforts by law centres to mitigate the effects of legal aid cuts.
Tags: legal aid, Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, not-for-profit
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news
Smith: put online NHS Direct for law at heart of radically reformed legal aid system
Monday, 22 October 2012An online NHS Direct for law, supported by 30 law centre-type operations in key areas around the country, should form the basis of a radical new approach to publicly funded legal services, according to a leading legal thinker.
Tags: legal aid, Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, Online Legal Services
Posted in Latest news, Technology, Uncategorized
Why external investors are eyeing up the criminal Bar
Tuesday, 25 September 2012Unlikely as it may seem, external investors are showing an interest in the criminal Bar. The reason, explains John Binks, is the way Legal Services Commission payments are structured and the £70m of work-in-progress that barristers are now sitting on.
Tags: Barristers, legal aid
Posted in Latest news, Market monitor
Fighting the good fight, if not always winning
Thursday, 24 May 2012The last week has seen both a victory and a defeat for lawyer lobbying, and perhaps the most fearsome legal lobbying machine – the Bar – crank into action. The victory came in the surprise climbdown by HSBC over its restricted conveyancing panel. A global banking giant felled by a campaign spearheaded by the Law Society but with strong support from the likes of the Bold Group. It was pursued at a national level, with coverage in several national newspapers, and also at a local level, with solicitors talking to their estate agent contacts.
Tags: conveyancing, conveyancing quality scheme, Jackson report, Law Society, legal aid, Legal Services Act, Legal Services Board, minimum salary, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Blog
Criminal Bar “ready to strike” over fees
Friday, 18 May 2012The criminal Bar is ready to strike in protest at the level of fees paid to both prosecution and defence advocates, a survey by the Criminal Bar Association has revealed. Some 89% are prepared to take “direct lawful action”, such as a refusal to attend court.
Tags: Barristers, criminal law, legal aid
Posted in Latest news
Co-op to launch family law service in London before nationwide roll-out
Monday, 30 April 2012Co-operative Legal Services will this summer launch its family law service in London before rolling it out nationwide, director Christina Blacklaws has revealed. From launch CLS will provide the full range of family law services, and has a legal aid contract.
Tags: Co-op, family law, fixed fees, legal aid
Posted in Latest news