All articles by John Hyde – Page 370
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News
Leveson plea on ‘either way’ offences
The chairman of the Sentencing Council has called on magistrates to send fewer ‘either way’ offences to the Crown court. The number of such cases reaching the Crown court rose from 310,000 in 2007 to 353,000 in 2010. Lord Justice Leveson told the House of Commons ...
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Everyman Legal launches franchise scheme
Solicitors are to be offered the chance to set up their own practices under a franchise scheme launched today by commercial firm Everyman Legal. The firm, which in October became the first practice to target a stock exchange listing, will support members through its marketing and back-office systems.
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Retention rate for trainees up
The number of trainees staying with their firms after qualifying recovered in 2011 after a two-year dip, according to a survey of more than 120 commercial firms. The Chambers Student Guide found that 1,813 of the 2,251 trainees who qualified in 2011 stayed on. That retention ...
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Tesco law is no big bang, but change is still on the horizon
I’ve never quite understood the obsession with celebrating new year’s eve. There’s an enormous build-up, endless boring chat about the future and a few party poppers. Then it’s over, with just dark wintry evenings and uncertainty to look forward to.
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PI firm attacks Jackson reforms in £1m campaign
A personal injury firm has launched a £1m advertising campaign to attack government reforms of the no-win no-fee system. Birmingham firm Claim Today Solicitors (CTS) will spread its marketing drive across newspapers, television and the web for at least three months. The campaign is timed to ...
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News
‘Titanic battle’ predicted as ABS processing begins
The Solicitors Regulation Authority today began processing applications for companies looking to become an alternative business structure (ABS). The SRA officially became a licensed regulator for ABSs before Christmas and set the first working day after the new year to start accepting applications. Depending on the ...
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News
Consultation opens on separate jurisdiction for Wales
Welsh Assembly members have begun consulting on the establishment of a separate legal jurisdiction for the principality. The assembly’s constitutional and legislative affairs committee will spend the next two months assessing how a separation from England would work in practice. The issue ...
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Solicitors Regulation Authority set for summer move
Staff will move into the new headquarters of the Solicitors Regulation Authority from this summer, it has been confirmed. The Cube development in Birmingham will also be the base for Midlands Law Society employees who provide support services. Chancery Lane in London will continue to be ...
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News
LSC recruits new chief executive
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has recruited its new chief executive from the UK Border Agency. Matthew Coats, currently interim head of border force, will take up his new position on 27 February. The role will then change to chief executive of the Legal Aid Agency, ...
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News
Keoghs open to ABS options
Insurance law firm Keoghs has confirmed it is keen to speak with potential investors as an option to grow its business. The Bolton-based firm is considering whether to explore any further offers from private equity sources to take advantage of the opening of the legal market. ...
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News
Asylum law advice service preserved by Comic Relief grant
A specialised support programme for female asylum seekers will be resurrected after a £120,000 Comic Relief grant. Rochdale Law Centre was forced to close the project in March after a previous three-year grant came to an end. The service had offered legal advice to more than ...
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News
Herbert Smith cuts alliance with European firms
City firm Herbert Smith has confirmed it will terminate its alliance with European firms Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe by the end of the year. The alliance with Germany’s Gleiss and Benelux firm Stibbe was expected to be wound down gradually after merger talks broke down earlier this year. ...
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News
McNally tells Lords legal aid bill is in 'pristine' condition
Justice minister Lord McNally has warned campaigners they should not expect to see significant changes to proposed legal aid cuts. McNally, who is also leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, faced opposition to his government’s legislation from members on all sides ...
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SRA warning to legal aid lawyers
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has urged firms to take care with vulnerable clients and uphold standards even if legal aid cuts are in force.
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News
Getting the message on Twitter
Poison-pen columnists looking for a cheap shot can always rely on the ‘judges out of touch’ jibe. So it came as something of a welcome surprise to some to see the lord chief justice dealing firmly with the issue of Twitter in court last week. Not ...
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News
Filming will not turn courts into 'theatre', pledges Clarke
Justice secretary Ken Clarke (pictured) has insisted he will not allow courts to become ‘theatre’ despite allowing cameras inside for the first time. The government is planning to change the law to remove the ban on cameras in court, starting with the Court of Appeal and ...
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News
Crisis, what crisis? Number of solicitors soars to all-time high
The number of practising solicitors hit a record high last month, despite the parlous state of the economy, according to figures released by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. By the end of November there were 125,473 PC-holders, a rise of 462 on the previous month and of ...
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News
Jackson reforms will 'encourage third-party funding'
A leading insurer has predicted that the Jackson reforms will encourage a flood of third-party litigation funders to enter the UK market. Peter Smith (pictured), managing director of after-the-event (ATE) insurance firm Firstassist, spoke this week after clinching the sale of the company by Equistone Partners (formerly Barclays Private Equity) ...
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News
Law firms warned on text-generated referral 'spam'
Law firms have been reminded to check the origins of referrals to ensure they were not generated by unwanted text messages, after investigations uncovered widespread anger at such ‘spam’. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said this week it is working with mobile phone networks to study ...
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Government snubs call for further bans on referral fees
The government has rejected a recommendation from a commons committee to extend the ban on referral fees. A ban on receiving or paying fees for personal injury cases features in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders bill. It is set to come into law ...