Latest news – Page 813
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‘Data corruption’ blamed for duty solicitor rota errors
The Legal Services Commission has blamed ‘data corruption issues’ for errors in the duty solicitor rotas published last week. Following publication of the new rotas for the six-month slots running from July to December, firms across the country found themselves on rotas in the wrong areas, or missed off the ...
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Fees up at top 50 law firms
Solicitors at top 50 law firms are earning nearly 20% more in fees than they were a year ago, new research has found.On average, each fee-earner in the top 50 firms brought in £77,000 in the quarter ended 30 April, compared with £65,000 over the same period in 2009, according ...
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ABI launches third-party code for insurers
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has launched a voluntary code of practice for insurers taking part in so-called third-party capture. The practice, referred to by the ABI as ‘third-party assistance’, involves an insurance company settling a claim directly with a personal injury victim of a policyholder, without the victim ...
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‘Collapse of representation’ fears over LSC’s mental health tender
The ‘extraordinary’ results of the Legal Services Commission’s mental health tender have left established firms facing bankruptcy and could trigger the ‘collapse of representation’, solicitors have warned. The tender outcomes, which were published to providers last week, have resulted in many experienced providers being given less ...
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Smaller firms to collaborate in north-west
An innovative project to help smaller law firms work together to become more competitive has been launched in the north-west. The initiative could involve around 10 Greater Manchester firms setting up a single management company to manage shared support services to help them prosper in the post-Legal Services Act environment. ...
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FSA chief warns over enforcement disruption
The scrapping of the Financial Services Authority must not disrupt a pipeline of pending insider dealing and market abuse cases, its enforcement chief warned this week. Margaret Cole (pictured), the FSA’s director of enforcement, said it is ‘vital that the momentum of enforcement activity is ...
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Legal aid payment regime blamed for RMJ collapse
The Law Society has hit back at government claims that inefficiencies at legal advice charity Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ) led to its collapse – while third sector groups have warned that all legal aid suppliers are facing funding difficulties. The charity, which was one of ...
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Regime change
The coalition government is scrapping the Financial Services Authority as a result of the latter’s comprehensive failure to provide effective regulation.
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Unethical earnings
The commercial debate about referral fees overlooks one simple fact – a referral fee is the purchase price for a client.
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Wake-up call
I cannot help but comment on the relative health of the legal profession compared with the medical profession.
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National disgrace
On 16 June Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ), one of the largest legal aid providers in the UK for refugees and migrants, went into administration because of cashflow problems caused by a legal aid contracting regime which prevents us from billing our work in progress until the closure of cases.
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Government wields axe over court estate
The Ministry of Justice today outlined proposals to shut nearly a third of the courts in England and Wales and confirmed it will be looking at ways to make ‘efficiency’ savings in the legal aid budget. A consultation document details plans for the closure of 157 ...
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Chancery Lane warning over budget tax hike
The capital gains tax (CGT) increase announced in this week’s budget will mean trustees and personal representatives administering the estates of the deceased could feel the full brunt of the rise, the Law Society has warned, as gains made will be at risk of exposure to the new higher rate. ...
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New international hub to promote pro bono work
A new online service to promote pro bono legal work around the world and provide an international hub for information on anti-corruption and good governance was launched today by the Thomson Reuters Foundation TrustLaw provides: an online database of national legislation; international conventions; news; country profiles; ...
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Solicitors ‘should enter into partnership with estate agents’
The future for the conveyancing market in England and Wales lies in partnerships between solicitors and estate agents to provide a one-stop shop for sellers, the new president of the E-Homebuying Forum has told the Gazette. Sir Bryan Carsberg, who is also a former director of ...
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Chancery Lane hails costs cap coup
Controversial rules to cap the costs recovered by acquitted defendants were struck down as ‘unlawful’ by the High Court in a victory for the Law Society this week. The regulations, which are now invalid, were introduced in October 2009 and sought to ensure that acquitted defendants ...
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Court of Protection failing to meet targets, report reveals
The court that makes decisions on behalf of people lacking mental capacity has suffered ‘more than its fair share of setbacks’ and is still achieving only one of its six targets, over 30 months after its creation, a report revealed last week. The first report into ...
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Human rights key to fighting terrorism, Lord Phillips says
The Human Rights Act 1998 is ‘a vital part of the foundation of our fight against terrorism’, the president of the Supreme Court has declared in an outspoken defence of the act. Setting out a series of recent cases in which government anti-terrorism measures have ...
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PII complaints initiative to cut premiums
A City law firm and an insurance broker are offering to take on complaints-handling work for law firms with a service that they claim could cut firms’ professional indemnity insurance (PII) premiums. Davies Arnold Cooper will provide 10 hours of free legal advice on internal and ...
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Insolvencies in Merseyside on the rise
Solicitor bankruptcies in the Merseyside area have risen sharply, the official receiver said last week.Ian Thomson, official receiver for Liverpool, said that there have been ‘more than the usual’ number of solicitors going bust over the last six months. Thomson estimated that in a normal year, between four and five ...