Last 3 months headlines – Page 1681
-
News
Playing by the rules
At a time of growing financial hardship, solicitors need access to as many legitimate channels of income as possible. A fortnight ago this column observed that few subjects in the Gazette’s ambit generate such impassioned opinions as regulation. One that certainly does is referral fees. ...
-
News
New years resolution
From April 2009, a new Acas code of practice on discipline and grievances – and a supplementary, non-statutory Acas guide – will replace the 2004 statutory dispute resolution procedures.
-
News
Bespoke suits
I was interested in Joshua Rozenberg's article on the doom-laden prognoses of Richard Susskind, who apparently believes that, in future, ‘bespoke’ legal services will be the exception (see [2008] Gazette, October 30, 10). With great respect, what utter tosh. The only examples of so-called ‘commoditised’ ...
-
News
Independence and the vote
Your editorial (30 October 2008) on the result of the recent postal ballot reads like an extension of the Law Society’s publicity machine. It is disappointing that you do not seem to have applied independent thought to the issue. Even worse, you have ignored the fact that a two-thirds majority ...
-
News
It ain't broke
Law Society members thankfully rejected the plan for an affiliate category for non-solicitors. The Society is for solicitors. We do not want the brand diluted, and extra administration and costs introduced in permitting others even to be ‘associated’ with the Society. Instead, the aim should be for simplicity and cost ...
-
News
Number of the beast
National press interest in a ‘haunted’ solicitor’s office isn’t spooking Sarfraz Khan, marketing and managing consultant at Birmingham firm LAC. ‘We have no intention of moving or changing our address, because we’ve been very successful,’ he tells Obiter. ‘We haven’t lost a single case yet.’
-
News
Bubble economy
At this time of economic meltdown, it is fitting that solicitors should be using their downtime creatively. To that end, we offer you the opening paragraphs of a new surreal novel by valued Gazette contributor, Anna Gramm. If you look ...
-
News
Art for art's sake
Many Gazette readers will identify with not quite being able to remember how old they are – at least until the maths is done. Institutions sometimes have the same problem. A few weeks back, the Law Society Art Group (LSAG) asked the Gazette for a small spot to ...
-
News
Jack of all trades
Global capitalism is in turmoil, the dole queues are lengthening inexorably and you’ve more chance of finding Shergar than a buyer for your house. But no matter. Such trifles have been turfed off the front pages by an issue of far greater moment – what to do about messrs Ross ...
-
News
Referral rule breaches widespread
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is to reconsider the controversial question of referral arrangements as new figures show that the number of firms not complying with rules governing referrals remains stubbornly high. The SRA also expressed fears that the current economic climate might encourage practitioners to cut further corners.
-
News
Solicitor poised to sue broker as Society takes action
A two-partner firm is set to sue its broker after its professional indemnity insurance (PII) premium quadrupled, the Gazette has learned – while in a parallel development, the Law Society has created a PII crisis group and hinted it could launch its own action. Joe Golstein ...
-
News
Society and bar clash over solicitor-advocates
The Law Society has hit back at criticism from the bar over the ‘appalling’ standards of some solicitor-advocates, who it is alleged are keeping work for themselves for economic reasons rather than instructing barristers. Law Society President Paul Marsh said the comments were ‘exactly what you ...
-
News
Newspapers plan legal referral services
The Daily Telegraph and another national newspaper are to launch their own legal referrals services. The newspapers have tied or are about to tie deals with legal referrals company Contact Law to offer the company's service under their branding. ...
-
News
'Snowy peaks' charge
Sir Ken Macdonald QC has made an outspoken attack on the criminal justice system for failing to recruit enough black and minority ethnic (BME) staff. In his final official speech as Director of Public Prosecutions, Macdonald (pictured) called on other parts of the justice system to ...
-
News
Defendants value solicitor choice
A choice of solicitor is important to nine out of ten criminal defendants, according to a government-sponsored study published this week. Users perspectives of defence services in the criminal justice system also says that one-third of defendants at police ...
-
News
Firm closures increase
Latest figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority show the number of law firm closures month-by-month since January 2005. As shown by the spike in the green line, September this year was the worst month by far, with 375 firms closing – nearly 40% higher than the September average for the ...
-
News
Social welfare contract threat
Specialist firms could be lost to legal aid under government proposals for a single social welfare contract, practitioners have warned. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) last week began a consultation on a new procurement model for civil legal aid services. From 2010, the commission plans to ...
-
News
Internet property plea
The Law Society should be the ‘pathfinder’ in developing systems to computerise the process of buying and selling properties, the chairman of the Society’s conveyancing and land law committee said last week. Richard Barnett, who is also senior partner at volume firm Barnetts, told the ...
-
News
Society to vote on Council size
Law Society Council representatives are to put their heads on the block to decide the future size of the body. After more than a year of investigations into the structure of the Council, a vote will be taken at next week’s Council meeting. A consultation ...
-
News
Boris rapped over legal snub
The Mayor of London’s decision not to invite City lawyers on to his high-level economic crisis group has drawn criticism from the City of London Law Society. The new group, which is tasked with helping London through the downturn, will meet regularly to discuss the effects ...