Latest news – Page 799
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News
Lib Dem minister faces economic reality
The justice system cannot escape the ‘realities of the economic situation’, Lord McNally, minister of state at the Ministry of Justice, said in an interview with the Gazette this week. The Liberal Democrat peer said he is relying on the ability of the legal profession ...
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Mental health tender criteria ‘discriminate against smaller firms’
A London firm is poised to challenge the Legal Services Commission’s mental health tender process by claiming that it discriminates against smaller firms, as the Law Society’s action over the family contract commences in the Divisional Court today. The firm, which did not want to be ...
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‘Vicious circle’ in legal aid highlighted by thinktank
A legal thinktank calls on the government to adopt a more balanced approach to legal reform in a paper published today, and suggests that the large number of legal aid firms does not achieve best value for money. The Legal Services Institute (LSI) said the legal ...
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Conveyancers ‘vulnerable’ to ‘Tesco Law’
There is a high level of anxiety among solicitors over the legal services reforms, with conveyancers showing the greatest concern, according to research released to the Gazette this week. A survey of more than 300 solicitors by law firm network Contact Law found that attitudes towards ...
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Forty-year bar boom set to end
The number of barristers could be set to fall after 40 years of continuous growth, according to a report published last week. The report by consultants Jomati predicts that a drop in the number of law firms, coupled with more work done by solicitor-advocates, particularly ...
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Legal brand to launch national franchise
A new legal brand run by a solicitor is to launch as a national franchise next April, the Gazette can exclusively reveal. HighStreetLawyer.com aims to establish a recognisable law firm brand in a bid to compete with new market entrants when alternative business structures are sanctioned ...
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Small firms optimistic about year ahead, research reveals
Small law firms have faced ‘unprecedented pressure’ but are largely optimistic about their prospects in the year ahead, exclusive research conducted by Wesleyan for Lawyers in association with the Gazette has revealed. A survey of 129 firms, mainly small practices with fewer than 10 partners, showed ...
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Law Commission seeks ideas for projects
The Law Commission is consulting on a new programme of law reform and is seeking ideas for new projects, in particular those that support the drive to reduce waste and inefficiency. Projects are likely to focus on issues that are systemic and caused by laws ...
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Law Society puts legal aid tender case to the High Court
The Law Society warned that the Legal Services Commission’s family tender process will restrict access to justice for victims of domestic abuse, forced marriage and children, as its judicial review of the tender process began in the High Court today. Outlining the Law Society’s case ...
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Publishing diversity data ‘powerful incentive’ for firms
Legal Services Board plans to compel law firms to publish data about the diversity of their staff will act as a ‘powerful incentive’ for firms to increase social mobility in the profession, LSB chief executive Chris Kenny has said in a letter to legal regulators. Kenny ...
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Panel calls for evidence over will-writing regulation
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has made a call for evidence from solicitors and others in an investigation launched today into whether will-writing should become a regulated activity. The Legal Services Board has asked the panel to provide evidence of what problems consumers encounter in making ...
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Excellence award shortlist published
The outstanding achievements of legal professionals across England and Wales have been recognised by the judges of the Law Society’s Excellence Awards. High-achieving individual solicitors and teams across the entire legal sector have been shortlisted in categories ranging from Excellence in Community Investment to Excellence in ...
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Solicitors anxious over ABS ‘threat’
There is a high level of anxiety among solicitors over the impact of legal services reforms, with conveyancers showing the greatest alarm, according to research seen exclusively by the Gazette. A survey of more than 300 solicitors by law firm network Contact Law found ...
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Financial crisis sees dispute resolution surge
The financial crisis has seen a surge in dispute resolution cases, with the UK performing well as a venue for hearing international disputes, according to a report published today. The report Dispute Resolution in London & the UK, compiled by membership body TheCityUK, shows the number ...
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Innovation ‘anathema to solicitors’, report suggests
Innovation appears to be ‘anathema’ to solicitors, who place too much reliance on the value of their reputation and are overly wedded to ‘old school’ marketing techniques, according to a report published today. The ‘white paper’ compiled by business advisory group Selling for Solicitors also found ...
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Law Society warns Home Office over immigration cap
The Law Society has today made a submission to the Home Office warning that its proposed limits on non-EU highly skilled migration could damage the legal sector. The submission follows concerns voiced by Liberal Democrat business secretary Vince Cable this week that immigration limits are damaging ...
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Firms must inform clients of new complaints body
Solicitors will be obliged to inform clients that the Legal Complaints Service has been replaced by the Legal Ombudsman (LeO), following a rule change approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority at its board meeting today. The SRA said it had been forced to introduce the rule ...
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Solicitors queue up to sue LSC
Pressure is mounting on the Legal Services Commission over its handling of the tender for civil legal aid contracts, as it faces a growing number of judicial review challenges to the process, and talks with the Law Society broke down.
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Army cuts could hit support for Afghan operations
The defence spending and security review will result in cuts of at least 25% in the numbers of lawyers in the Army and Royal Air Force, the Gazette understands. The cuts will include lawyers who advise frontline troops and commanders on compliance with the Geneva ...
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MoJ to review media reporting in family courts
The Ministry of Justice has told the Gazette that it will not commence legislation that would extend the media’s right to report family cases without ‘looking closely’ at the changes, amid pressure from family lawyers. Family lawyers have called on the government not to ...