All News articles – Page 1433

  • News

    LSC offers final chance for family contracts

    2012-01-26T00:00:00Z

    The Legal Services Commission has fended off the threat of litigation from firms that failed to get family and housing contracts, by announcing a licence-only tender to give firms a final chance to secure a contract. The Law Society welcomed the LSC’s ‘pragmatic and sensible’ decision, ...

  • News

    Business specialist launches franchise scheme

    2012-01-26T00:00:00Z

    A south-east law firm which has won awards for its innovative approach to business advice has used its name to launch a new franchise. Acumen Business Law, based in Hove, East Sussex, will license firms to use the name Acumen Business Law Enterprise. Acumen’s managing ...

  • News

    Warning over BSB's 'cab rank' plans

    2012-01-26T00:00:00Z

    The Legal Services Board has formally warned the Bar Standards Board over proposed changes to the bar’s ‘cab rank’ rule. It says in a letter that the LSB is ‘considering whether to refuse’ a rule change application submitted by the BSB in October 2011. The new ...

  • News

    Cost assessment scheme to go national

    2012-01-26T00:00:00Z

    Lord Justice Jackson has stated that the costs provisional assessment scheme is ready to go national after a year-long pilot. District judges in three county courts were required to assess on paper any bill of costs in which the base costs claimed were £25,000 or less. ...

  • News

    Opponents win custody advice concession in ‘un-costed and unjust’ LASPO

    2012-01-26T00:00:00Z

    The government has abandoned its controversial plan to pave the way for the means-testing of legal advice for suspects detained in police stations. The Law Society welcomed the government’s decision, announced in the latest Lords debate on the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders ...

  • News

    Ban on PI adverts in hospitals 'unworkable'

    2012-01-26T00:00:00Z

    Banning leaflets advertising personal injury lawyers and claims management companies from NHS hospitals is unworkable and counter-productive, the government has been warned. Health minister Simon Burns last week told English NHS hospitals it was ‘not acceptable’ to display adverts for law firms. He said patients should ...

  • News

    UK courts have misunderstood a fundamental provision of the Human Rights Act

    2012-01-26T00:00:00Z

    ‘Cameron tells Euro judges to stop meddling in British justice,’ the Mail on Sunday headlined its well-sourced report at the weekend. Anticipating the prime minister’s speech to the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly on Wednesday afternoon, the newspaper said that David Cameron would demand major reforms to the European Court ...

  • News

    Call for inquiry over church child abuse 'cover-up'

    2012-01-26T00:00:00Z

    Child protection lawyers have called for a public inquiry into an alleged cover-up by churches of widespread sexual and physical abuse of children in England and Wales. In a letter to The Times last week, they claimed that the implementation of new ‘safeguarding’ policies has been ...

  • News

    Managing the implications of ABSs

    2012-01-26T00:00:00Z

    As Birmingham is our home, we have paid tribute to the city by naming some of our meeting rooms after its famous landmarks. One of them is named after Spaghetti Junction, a Medusa’s head of highways. It can take you where you need to go, but it is a long ...

  • News

    Leading firms ponder ABS options

    2012-01-26T00:00:00Z

    At least 10 of the top 100 UK law firms are considering applying to become alternative business structures, the Gazette can reveal. International firm Kennedys and Midlands firm Browne Jacobson are among those to confirm this week that discussions are ongoing about a possible application - ...

  • News

    Abbey marriage

    2012-01-26T00:00:00Z

    Fans of the award-winning television drama Downton Abbey will remember the moving scene when footman William, mortally injured in the first world war trenches, married scullery maid Daisy with his dying breath. The producers consulted the Law Society’s library on the rules around special licences ...

  • News

    Law Society president: split in profession to end

    2012-01-25T00:00:00Z

    The president of the Law Society expects the 180-year-old division between solicitors and barristers to wither away as a result of the reforms set in motion by the Legal Services Act. It is ‘inevitable’ the professions will ‘need to revisit the question whether [they] should continue ...

  • News

    UK ‘blocking’ EU human rights accession

    2012-01-25T00:00:00Z

    The UK is blocking moves to close a ‘gaping hole’ in European human rights protection, it has been claimed on the day that prime minister David Cameron is to address the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. A joint statement issued by the Council of ...

  • News

    Your personal new year financial review

    2012-01-24T00:00:00Z

    In his November Autumn Statement, chancellor George Osborne confirmed the difficulties the economy faces and effectively emphasised the need for partners to reappraise their financial planning and the tax-efficiency of their finances. There is no better time to do this than at the start of the new year! Here are ...

  • News

    Lord Chancellor’s incorrect statement

    2012-01-24T00:00:00Z

    The Lord Chancellor Kenneth Clarke gave evidence to the Joint Select Committee on Privacy and Injunctions on 16 January 2012 (uncorrected evidence published on 23 January 2012). In answer to a question by Lord Boateng, Clarke said:

  • News

    A blow for case management?

    2012-01-24T00:00:00Z

    The Gazette reported last week on a case in which former firm Bevan Ashford faces legal action over advice given free of charge by a newly qualified solicitor. Given the number of firms out there offering a free half-hour of advice to new clients, it’s no wonder that so many ...

  • News

    Twitter ban in Redknapp trial

    2012-01-24T00:00:00Z

    The judge in the trial of Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has banned the use of Twitter from inside the courtroom. Judge Leonard ordered the ban for both the press and members of the public attending the trial of Redknapp (pictured) and former Portsmouth chairman Milan ...

  • News

    Quoted company buys PI firm in ABS first

    2012-01-24T00:00:00Z

    A personal injury firm is to be bought by a listed company in a £19.3m deal to create an alternative business structure (ABS). Liverpool-based Silverbeck Rymer will be acquired by AIM-listed Quindell Portfolio for an initial £10.25m in cash, and the issue of up to 120.8m ...

  • News

    Management priorities

    2012-01-23T00:00:00Z

    As we look forward to 2012 and the challenges that solicitors’ firms face I would suggest they need to think carefully about their management priorities for the coming year. Direct competition for the domestic, small business and corporate client groups will become more visible as new businesses (alternative business structures ...

  • News

    Management priorities

    2012-01-23T00:00:00Z

    As we look forward to 2012 and the challenges that solicitors’ firms face I would suggest they need to think carefully about their management priorities for the coming year. Direct competition for the domestic, small business and corporate client groups will become more visible as new businesses (alternative business structures ...