All News articles – Page 1477
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News
New law franchise targets 600 firms
Another national law firm franchise formally launches today, designed to help firms compete against cut-price and ‘faceless’ providers which operate online and through call centres. Face2face solicitors, set up by solicitor Ray Gordon (pictured), is targeting smaller firms and startups, offering reduced overheads and ...
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Lawyers2you franchise launch highlights lack of marketing and client care skills
I am delighted that the recent story about the Lawyers2you franchise launch by Blakemores has sparked debate.
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Claimants will ‘never see’ ten per cent damages uplift
Government plans to introduce a 10% uplift on general damages have again been called into question, amid concern that they are reliant on the co-operation of insurers. The increase, recommended by Lord Justice Jackson in his review of civil litigation costs, was intended in part to ...
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Family bar warns of ‘bleak’ future at national meeting
Family barristers have warned of a ‘bleak’ future for family justice if the government’s legal aid cuts are implemented as planned. At a national meeting last weekend, the Family Law Bar Association said the reforms set out in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders ...
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Dundas & Wilson in merger talks
Edinburgh-headquartered Dundas & Wilson, one of Scotland’s so-called ‘big four’ law firms, has has begun merger talks with London-based Bircham Dyson Bell. In a joint statement released on Tuesday by the managing partners of each firm, the pair confirmed that talks have begun which may lead ...
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ABSs ‘not attractive’ to City firms, new research suggests
City law firms do not generally see alternative business structures as attractive, because they are reluctant to cede control of the firm to source external funding that they do not need. This is one conclusion of the first of a series of studies looking at ...
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EU-wide training: the impossible dream
What would you do if you had to draw up a plan for training 1.4 million legal personnel in European Union law in 27 member states? You would either run for the exit, or make a hopeful start somewhere.
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Community sentences are no soft option
The prison population has reached a record high of 87,120, according to figures released on Friday by the Ministry of Justice. But does being tough on crime mean offenders have to go to prison, or are community sentences and reparation actually tougher? And are the latter ...
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New solicitor training model could shake up the City
A groundbreaking solicitor training model has launched this week, targeting City law firms and in-house legal departments. The first non-legal service provider to be authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to take on trainees, Acculaw claims it will cut costs and improve efficiency for firms looking ...
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Regulator considers ‘reflective approach’ on continuing professional development
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to commission research on continuing professional development schemes in other professions and internationally as part of its review of CPD, the Gazette has learned. The regulator said it will examine a range of schemes in use, including the more ‘reflective’ approach ...
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Law Society announces Excellence Awards shortlist
The Law Society has today unveiled the shortlist of lawyers and firms nominated for this year’s Excellence Awards. The 17 awards recognise outstanding achievement by legal professionals at firms of all sizes across England and Wales, in categories ranging from community investment to client service, with ...
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Lib Dems call for legal aid to be retained in benefits appeals
The Liberal Democrats have condemned the cuts to legal aid for welfare benefits appeals. At its autumn conference, the party called on the government to retain legal aid for people appealing welfare benefit decisions, and voted through a motion condemning the government’s welfare reform plans. ...
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Decisive actions are needed in changing times
Despite the delay in the regulation to license alternative business structures and the full implementation of the Legal Services Act, it is imperative that law firms decide now what direction their firm is planning to take. We can categorise the profession simply into three areas; the ...
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LSC ‘performed strongly’ in 2010/11, says MoJ
The departing chief executive of the Legal Services Commission (LSC) cut the organisation’s running costs by 11% in 2010/11. Carolyn Downs achieved a £15m underspend on the organisation’s £135m administrative budget, through ‘targeted efficiency savings generated in year against staff, estates and costs’. ...
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O tempora, o mores
Being a crusty old soul, Obiter abhors change. Having grudgingly accepted that outcomes-focused regulation is going to happen, however, we popped into the SRA’s London roadshow, held over the river at Glaziers Hall, Southwark, hoping for an enlightening crash course.
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Practising law in a ‘mafia state’
He practises law in a country that is said to be even more dangerous than Colombia. He has received death threats, someone tried to kill him by sabotaging his car and he fears for the lives of his wife and children. His ...
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Insolvency
Company - Voluntary winding up - Liquidator Re Sunwing Vacation Inc and others: Chancery Division (Mr Justice Morgan): 22 June 2011 The Chancery Division of the High Court allowed the ...
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Immigration
Asylum seeker - Detention - Claimant being detained prior to deportation R (on the application of S) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: QBD (Admin) (David Elvin QC sitting as a deputy judge of the High Court): ...
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UK ‘unattractive’ to foreign legal high-flyers
The government’s commitment to reducing net migration to the UK will do long-term damage to the competitiveness of UK law firms and inhibit their ability to develop business internationally, the Law Society’s immigration law committee (ILC) has warned. Law firms have told the ILC that, under ...