Latest news – Page 757
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News
Judicial Appointments Commission survives quangos cull
The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) and the Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman will not fall victim to the government’s ‘bonfire of the quangos’. Justice secretary Kenneth Clarke (pictured) told parliament today that the two bodies will remain ...
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Consumer panel wants lawyers to undergo ‘regular MOT’
Lawyers would have to demonstrate at regular intervals that they are competent to practise under radical proposals from consumer watchdogs for beefing up quality. The Legal Services Consumer Panel has today called for the introduction of ‘periodic validation’ – a review of permission to practise after a fixed time – ...
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QualitySolicitors opens first ‘legal store’
National legal services brand QualitySolicitors today launched its first ‘legal store’ in a shopping centre in London, offering ‘instant wills while you shop’, and late evening and weekend opening. QualitySolicitors Freeman Harris, based in the Lewisham Shopping Centre, is one of 54 new franchises opened by ...
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Top-50 firms see revenues grow
Top-50 law firms have successfully grown their revenues in the first half of the financial year, figures released by firms this week suggest. Among City firms, Norton Rose posted a 9% rise in fee income for the six months ending 31 October, indicating fee income of ...
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New legal aid court challenge set to proceed
A High Court judge has refused an injunction that could have further delayed the start of the new mental health and public law legal aid contracts – but awarded a protective costs order to enable a legal challenge to the two Legal Services Commission tender processes.
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LSC facing court challenge over immigration contracts
The future of the Legal Service Commission’s new immigration and asylum contract could be in doubt after the High Court gave South Manchester Law Centre (SMLC) permission to challenge the outcome of the tender process. The law centre challenged the lawfulness of the tender process in ...
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‘Sluggish’ justice must be faster and cheaper
The criminal justice system is ‘sluggish’, stifles innovation, and is both fragmented and bureaucratic. Agencies including the Crown Prosecution Service need to share resources and innovate to shorten the time between arrest and sentencing, and increase the number of early guilty pleas. These are among ...
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Indemnity insurance bill falls to three-year low
Solicitors paid less to insurers for professional indemnity insurance (PII) this year than they did in the previous two years, Solicitors Regulation Authority figures revealed today. The cost of insuring the profession on the open market this year was £214m, down from £241m in 2009/10 and ...
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Revenues rise at Allen & Overy
Half-year turnover at magic circle firm Allen & Overy have risen by 3% on last year, the firm reported today. For the six months ending 31 October, turnover at the firm rose to £526m, up from £511m over the same period in 2009. The firm said ...
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National Pro Bono Week gets under way
National Pro Bono Week begins today with events marking the donation of hundreds of millions of pounds worth of free legal advice over the last 12 months. Sponsored by the Law Society, Bar Council and Institute of Legal Executives, the NPBW highlights the broad range of ...
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Hammonds agrees latest transatlantic merger
Partners at national firm Hammonds and US firm Squire Sanders & Dempsey have approved a merger of the firms, creating a 1,275-lawyer transatlantic practice with $625m (£387m) in combined revenues. The new firm, which will span 17 countries and 37 offices, will be named Squire Sanders ...
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Law Society warning over immigration cap proposals
The government’s immigration cap must be scrapped completely, or the international competitiveness of the UK will be damaged, the Law Society warned today. In a speech at the Policy Exchange thinktank, home secretary Theresa May confirmed that restrictions on highly skilled workers entering the UK will ...
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Restrict the LPC
I write following the article by Carly Moore-Martin . It is a sad fact that a great many young people wish to qualify as lawyers but the opportunities to do so are simply not available. There are now websites where graduates ...
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Overhaul intestacy rules
I read with interest the short article on the current intestacy rules. The situation needs a considerable overhaul but I doubt whether this or any other government will find time to grasp the nettle and improve the position. Although the situation of ...
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Capacity issue
I have just come off the telephone with an anxious client regarding lasting powers of attorney and Court of Protection applications. I was concerned to hear that a manager from NatWest had told a client of mine that I had incorrectly completed a Court of ...
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Conveyancing quality scheme raises standards
Your article on the launch of a conveyancing quality scheme is excellent news, not just for conveyancing clients but also for insurers of conveyancing risk. The introduction of the conveyancing quality scheme (CQS) represents a huge opportunity for all law firms. There are several great initiatives ...
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Home loan, electric issues, cement refinancing and BMW lease
Home loan: Magic circle firm Allen & Overy advised Nationwide Building Society on creating a £1.5bn residential mortgage-backed security on a £32bn loan portfolio. Lead managers UBS, Deutsche Bank and Bank of America Merrill Lynch were advised by US firm Sidley Austin. ...
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Mid-tier law firms seek mergers as loans rise
Mid-tier law firms are using increasingly high levels of bank financing, with many seeking to merge to secure their financial position, according to an authoritative survey by accountants PwC published today. The figures show that firms in the top 11-25 bracket now receive 40% of their ...
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Solicitors believe ABSs will create ‘more opportunity’
Solicitors believe alternative business structures will create ‘more opportunity’ in terms of their careers, and are more motivated by work/life balance than financial gain, the results of exclusive Gazette research have suggested. In a survey completed by more than 180 lawyers, 55% said ABSs would provide ...
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MPs question MoJ over budget cuts
The House of Commons’ Public Accounts Committee has questioned the ability of the Ministry of Justice to comprehend the impact of the 23% cuts set to be made to its budget, given its history of ‘poor’ financial management. At a committee meeting on Tuesday, MPs grilled ...