Desmond Hudson
FeatureBreaking the covenant of trust
The SRA’s short-sighted approach to regulatory reform needs an urgent rethink.
OpinionHolding Whitehall to account
The MoJ has many more issues to address on criminal legal aid reforms.
OpinionLegal aid: no time for gesture politics
We must face the harsh reality of legal aid cuts and keep the maximum number of firms afloat.
OpinionNext steps on legal aid
Independent studies jointly commissioned by the Law Society and Ministry of Justice must form the basis for duty contracts.
OpinionUnited profession can continue to influence government
New economic research, jointly commissioned by Chancery Lane and practitioner groups, will examine the spending assumptions behind the government’s planned cuts to legal aid fees.
OpinionPII: stabilising the cycle
We hope to see changes in the solicitors PII market that will help smaller firms in particular.
OpinionCriminal legal aid: what now?
We must face the practical reality. There were going to be cuts. Our agreement is the best available package.
- News
Price-competitive tendering risks demolishing the supplier base
by Desmond Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society
- News
Solicitors must engage with PCT consultation
by Desmond Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society
- News
Conveyancing panels and separate representation
For at least the past two years, the Law Society has been working hard to respond to a series of unwelcome and often confusing changes to lender panel membership.
- News
Law firms' collaboration helping to combat climate change
by Desmond Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society
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Building a rapport
The last two years or so have been a problematic time for conveyancers as the effects of the recession have seen a fall in transactions, a severe and continuing hardening of mortgage-lending availability and terms, and continuing problems for solicitors in securing access to lenders’ residential conveyancing panels.
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Law Society action on panels
I was disappointed to read Melanie Carroll's call for the Law Society to stand up to lenders [see [2010] Gazette, 20 May] . We might all wish for a simple world where such problems could be dismissed so easily. It may help to note the enormous amount of work we ...
- News
Chancery Lane highlights the importance of legal professional privilege
The Court of Appeal’s decision to give the Law Society permission to intervene in Prudential PLC and Prudential (Gibraltar) Limited v Special Commissioner of Income Tax and Philip Pandolfo (HM Inspector of Taxes) is a crucial step in our efforts to defend the principles of legal professional privilege (LPP). LPP ...
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Easing the burden for immigration lawyers
I would like to clarify some important points in relation to last week’s story about immigration lawyers being unhappy over the new accreditation process (see [2010] Gazette, 25 February, 4).
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Representing all
I would like to clarify an important point in relation to last week’s news story ‘Large firms in legal aid talks’ (see [2010] Gazette 18 February, 1) .
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Compensation fund
I see from your story ‘Compensation fund levy set to treble?’ that the SRA is trying to justify a large increase on the basis that, if the Law Society had accepted their advice last year, the rise would have been less this year (see [2009] Gazette, 21 May, 1).