All News articles – Page 1581
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News
Outcomes-focused regulation: the emperor’s new clothes?
In just a few weeks the new Solicitors Regulation Authority Handbook will be released and in less than eight months the new regulatory regime comes into force. Many law firms, and alternative business structures, are only just beginning to consider what outcomes-focused regulation will really mean for their daily practices. ...
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Court strikes out filesharing actions
The Patents County Court struck out 27 alleged unlawful filesharing actions brought by London firm ACS:Law on behalf of its clients Media CAT yesterday. His Honour Judge Birss is now considering how much ACS:Law and Media CAT should pay in wasted costs, after accepting the submission ...
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Televise Supreme and Appeal Court hearings, says Neuberger
Some court hearings should be televised to increase public confidence in the justice system, the master of the rolls said this week. Giving the Judicial Studies Board annual lecture, Lord Neuberger suggested Supreme Court hearings and some Court of Appeal hearings should be televised on an ...
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News
Aptitude tests would be a positive step for BPTC and LPC students
Young people worried about the current oversupply of Legal Practice Course graduates will no doubt be looking with interest at how the bar’s regulator is seeking to address a similar issue in its own branch of the profession. Earlier today, the Bar Standards Board announced a new timetable for its ...
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Law firms will need to get better at collaboration
There are many indications that the legal economy will continue to face a difficult year, with many managing partners predicting stagnation or worse. The picture from general counsel and heads of legal confirms this picture – their budgets show no increase is planned, and that some of that spend will ...
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News
Legal aid cuts 'to hit 150,000 more'
The government has underestimated the number of people who will be denied legal aid funding because of its reforms by more than 150,000, according to research published today by campaign body the Legal Action Group. LAG said the government’s prediction that 502,000 people would lose access ...
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News
High Court dismisses LSC bid to recoup £100,000
The High Court has dismissed an attempt by the Legal Services Commission to recover more than £100,000 of payments on account (PoA) to a barrister, ruling that the LSC’s delay of almost 20 years in starting the action was an abuse of process. The LSC had ...
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News
Solicitors warned about website clones
Lawyers are being warned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to keep a regular watch on their websites in order to foil 'cloning' criminals. With just minor changes to a solicitor’s website – such as an almost unnoticeable change of name or contact details – internet fraudsters ...
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News
Don't worry about swear fees
I cannot agree with R M Napier . The reality is that swearing documents is now an anachronistic process that should be consigned to the dustbin of legal history. Few documents now need to be sworn and, where they do, it serves little purpose and is very inconvenient for ...
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News
Hudson issues warning on ABS crime risk
The Solicitors Regulation Authority must ensure that solicitors do not end up picking up the bill for inappropriate claims on the compensation fund made by alternative business structures, the Law Society chief executive said this week. Desmond Hudson (pictured) also warned that the SRA’s proposed rules ...
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News
UK Border Agency and proposals to change immigration rules
On 16 February, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) released a Statement of Intent detailing proposals to change the eligibility criteria for the Points-Based System (PBS) Tier 2 migrants and the operation of permanent limits on certain Tier 2 applications. Additionally proposals to change the criteria ...
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News
Taking offence at the aggressive LSC
Solicitors who allege that their clients are suffering ‘aggressive enforcement’ by the Legal Services Commission’s debt collectors should refer to section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970. A person commits an offence if, with the object of coercing another person to pay money claimed, they harass him with ...
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News
Family lawyers face up to challenges ahead
Family law is facing an unprecedented year of change, with practitioners under intense pressure to be innovative if they want to maintain the viability of their practices. Some family law departments are already downsizing, or are being closed, as experienced practitioners move firms or set ...
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News
Making our voices heard on legal aid
As we await the government’s response to submissions received on its legal aid green paper, I would like to express my thanks to all of you who took the time to write to government to express your views on this important issue. I know that not ...
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News
Conveyancing firms alerted over CQS 'risk consultants'
The Law Society has warned conveyancing firms seeking to join its Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) not to incur unnecessary costs by hiring unauthorised risk and compliance consultants to help with their applications. The CQS has received 633 applications from firms since the scheme’s launch in January ...
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News
Polishing the angels
When I tell people I am writing about organised crime down under, they often say ‘I didn’t know there was any’, writes James Morton. Oh, but there is. A big gangland war in Melbourne is coming to an end, mainly because there is only one man left standing. In the ...
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News
‘Head in the sand’ approach is costly
I find the Legal Services Commission’s assertions that defendants have been assessed as able to pay and that delays are caused by forms having to be returned disingenuous. Just because the LSC has assessed that defendants should contribute 90% of their income does not mean ...
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News
Motor insurers 'should reveal referral fee arrangements'
Motor insurers should publish on their websites the names of law firms with which they have referral fee arrangements, and indicate the level of fees paid, a House of Commons inquiry recommended last week. Policyholders should be sent this information with their insurance documents, and when ...
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News
New sentencing guidance for assault
The Sentencing Council has today published new guidance to judges and magistrates for assault offences. It aims to ensure a more consistent and proportionate approach to sentencing, with offenders receiving a sentence that reflects the harm they have caused to their victim and their culpability. ...
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News
Government publishes Defamation Bill
The Law Society has welcomed the debate over libel law reform following publication of the government’s draft Defamation Bill today. The bill, which is intended to bring libel law up-to-date, includes a new ‘public interest’ defence, and introduces the requirement for claimants to demonstrate ‘substantial ...