Latest news – Page 814
-
News
Clear guidance
I write in response to Andrew Hopper and Greg Treverton-Jones’ letter Amending the Code by the back door (see letters, 19 November) on the new guidance to rule 9 (referrals of business).
-
News
Clear guidance
I write in response to Andrew Hopper and Greg Treverton-Jones’ letter ‘Amending the Code by the back door’ (see letters, 19 November) on the new guidance to rule 9 (referrals of business).
-
News
Lacking confidence in Lord Bach
Further to your news item ‘Compulsory pro bono’ (see letters, 12 November) I must express my amusement at Lord Bach’s views on pro bono work and the ‘concern’ he has about the lack of confidence in our profession. Perhaps he should address the lack of confidence the publicly funded members ...
-
News
New PC charges to benefit in-house lawyers
Changes to the practising certificate (PC) fee charging system will see around £16m transferred onto private practice solicitors, to the benefit of in-house and local government lawyers, under plans due to be unveiled by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Under the new charging regime, 40% of ...
-
News
Cafcass judicial review threat
A Somerset solicitor is set to launch a judicial review action against the Children and Family Courts Advice and Support Service (Cafcass) because of its ‘unacceptable delays’ in appointing children’s guardians and family court advisers. Martin Davis, director of the family department at Somerset firm Battens, ...
-
News
Bar Standards Board sanctions legal disciplinary practices
The Bar Standards Board gave the green light for barristers to go into practice with solicitors last week, but proposed an extension of the cab-rank rule to all advocates including solicitors. At a meeting last week the BSB decided that barristers could join legal disciplinary partnerships ...
-
News
Talks on fixed fees for fast-track cases fail
A bid to fix the level of legal fees paid for all ‘fast-track’ cases has failed, the Gazette can reveal. The deadline for a mediation process conducted by the Civil Justice Council, which attempted to reach a deal between insurers and solicitors representing claimants and defendants, ...
-
News
African lawyers complete training at top City firms
Ten leading African lawyers completed a three-month training and relationship-building programme at top City firms this week, in a scheme designed to improve UK links at a time when there is high demand for English-qualified lawyers on the African continent. The International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) ...
-
News
LawNet to strengthen solicitor ‘brand’ with new website
A national network of independent law firms has launched an online consumer marketing initiative to help secure work referrals and give the firms a strong internet presence. The 65 firms that make up LawNet have banded together to launch a legal referral and advice website, called ...
-
News
Scrapping assigned risks pool ‘dangerous’
Abolishing the assigned risks pool (ARP) would place solicitors at the ‘whims and fancies’ of the insurance market, a leading solicitor has warned, as the profession voiced concerns over the proposals put forward by the Solicitors Regulation Authority last week. Sundeep Bhatia, chairman of the Society ...
-
News
New matter starts shortage reaching ‘crisis level’
Lawyers’ groups have warned that firms will be forced out of business and vulnerable clients turned away as the shortage of new matter starts for social welfare work hits ‘crisis level’. Carol Storer (pictured), director of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG), has called on the ...
-
News
Cole dismisses FSA prosecution concerns
The Financial Services Authority has dismissed mounting concern about its broadening remit as a criminal prosecutor, following a surge in the number of cases brought by the regulator.
-
News
Report slams LSC over criminal legal aid
More than a quarter of firms will walk away from criminal legal aid work in the next five years, a report slamming the Legal Services Commission’s poor administration has revealed. The report by public spending watchdog the National Audit Office (NAO) showed that one in six ...
-
News
City firms publish environmental performance
A group of 138 legal sector organisations including top City firms will publish a report on their climate change performance in a live webcast next week. The Legal Sector Alliance (LSA) report will show the extent to which members of the group have complied with ...
-
News
CPS consults on its ‘minimum standards’
The Crown Prosecution Service has launched a consultation asking the public for views on a set of proposed minimum standards that prosecutors should achieve at each stage of the prosecution process. The document sets core quality standards for prosecutors across 12 key areas of their work, ...
-
News
Lisbon treaty to improve access to European courts
The Law Society today welcomed the arrival of the Lisbon Treaty, saying that it will widen access to the European courts for business and individuals. The Society said that the treaty, which came into force today, will pave the way for ‘many more’ challenges to be ...
-
News
Contract awarded for Yorkshire advice network
The East Yorkshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has won the contract to run the first Community Legal Advice Network (CLAN), in a partnership with local law firm Switalskis. The CLAN, funded by East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Legal Services Commission (LSC), is due ...
-
News
First community advice network to open in East Yorkshire
The East Yorkshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has won the contract to run the country’s first Community Legal Advice Network (CLAN), in a partnership with local law firm Switalskis. The CLAN, funded by East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Legal Services Commission (LSC), is ...
-
News
Bar Standards Board opens door to joint practices
Barristers and solicitors will be able to go into practice together as a first step on the post-Clementi road, following a historic meeting of the Bar Standards Board last night. The board met to consider recommendations from its working group on alternative business structures to determine ...
-
News
Lend us a hand
After completion some lenders require the mortgage deed to be deposited with the Land Registry (eg The Mortgage Works), while others require the mortgage deeds themselves (eg NatWest).