All News articles – Page 1742
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News
ABSs are a fait accompli - the bar should accept this
‘Many, many things must be done, but nothing should ever be done for the first time.’ This cynical bureaucratic maxim, uttered by fictional mandarin Sir Humphrey Appleby, was brought to mind by the Bar Standards Board’s latest pronouncement on alternative business structures. The BSB ...
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Bar regulator rapped by Legal Services Board over ABSs
The bar’s regulator has been accused of engaging in a ‘sterile debate’ over alternative business structures by oversight body the Legal Services Board. The LSB’s broadside came following the BSB’s decision to commission research by economic analysts on the potential effects on the market and consumers ...
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Multi-party opt-out litigation saves costs and provides access to justice
by Ben Patrick, a legal officer at the public service union UNISON Neil Rose’s news article on class actions in employment tribunal claims (see [2009] Gazette, 6 August, 2) highlighted an important problem that affects many thousands of claimants in equal pay tribunal claims.
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Comparing solicitors online by price will affect quality
Accountants, who are often ahead of solicitors, now have the ‘benefit’ of a ‘new and revolutionary’ website that compares their charges. It is claimed that by checking prices of accountancy services, the client consumer will be able to pick the cheapest. This, of course, may rely on the number ...
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Solicitors offer air miles for legal work in new loyalty card scheme
An alliance of solicitor firms is to offer clients a ‘loyalty card’ rewards system in an innovative bid to square up to the threat from big brands entering the legal services market, the Gazette can exclusively reveal. QualitySolicitors.com will launch a loyalty card this month which ...
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Dispelling the myths around indemnity insurance
This year the Law Society has been actively engaging with its members about professional indemnity insurance (PII) following the difficulties that some members experienced during last year’s renewal period. As a result of this dialogue, we have become aware of an increasing level of concern about the PII market. The ...
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Internet users spend an average of two minutes on law firm websites
Internet users spend an average of just two minutes on law firm websites, with visits to ‘fuddy-duddy’ sites often lasting a mere 40 seconds, new research has revealed. Website marketing company Conscious Solutions analysed data from 83 law firms, ranging in size from more than 20 ...
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Can sole practitioners avoid getting a raw deal on PII premiums?
When it comes to professional indemnity insurance, many sole practitioners are getting a raw deal. The effect of the credit crunch on the housing market and levels of repossessions has led to an increasing number of lenders looking for ways to recoup their losses by suing solicitors.
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Tea, biscuit, mediation?
When it comes to ideas for promoting mediation in family cases, it seems the Ministry of Justice is all ears. Mediation can be less drawn-out and traumatic for family members, and of course it also happens to save the MoJ more than a bob or two in legal fees. The ...
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Guide launched to help solicitors buy indemnity cover
The main representative bodies from the legal and insurance worlds today launched a guide to help solicitors buy professional indemnity insurance (PII) cover. The guide, put together by the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA), the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Law Society, offers guidance ...
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Cafcass and the family justice system are failing vulnerable children
By Christina Blacklaws, a founding partner of Blacklaws Davis, is the child care representative on the Law Society CouncilIt is a very bad time to be a vulnerable child at risk of abuse and neglect. Not only are social work vacancies running at record levels – 12% nationally and almost ...
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News
Firms call for ‘safe harbour’ to strike early investment deals
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has rejected calls to create a ‘safe harbour’ for law firms to strike formal investment deals ahead of full implementation of the Legal Services Act 2007 reforms. The news came as the Gazette learned that a number of commercial law firms have taken the first major ...
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News
Leading the profession through changes to the legal services market
Just as the profession has changed over the past five years, so has the Law Society.
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When the chips are down
Obiter has got wind of some rather interesting ideas for tackling the changing legal services market from London’s Outer Temple Chambers.
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Law Society claims Co-op panel cuts may be indirect discrimination
The Law Society has alleged indirect discrimination in the newly merged Britannia Building Society and Co-operative Financial Services’ (CFS) decision to axe the 3,600 sole practitioners from Britannia’s conveyancing panel. The Society said the move would have a disproportionate impact on ethnic minority lawyers, and criticised CFS for failing to ...
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Freedom of information data show fall in cost of police station work
The government was accused of ‘reckless’ and ‘savage’ cuts to criminal legal aid this week, as information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) seen exclusively by the Gazette cast doubt on the need for the reductions. The Ministry of Justice said the cuts ...
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General counsel put their heads together
Long gone are the days when going in-house was likened to putting on a nice comfortable pair of slippers. These days, general counsel enjoy a high status as the demanding keepers of their company’s legal purse strings. They want more for their money, and they ...
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Separating couples may be forced into mediation under MoJ plan
Divorcing and separating couples could be compelled to consider mediation before going to court under plans being examined by the Ministry of Justice. At present, only parties who are funded by legal aid are obliged to consider mediating. Justice minister Bridget ...
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Court defeat
In the best traditions of English tennis, the Law Society’s team came away with the wooden spoon at the biennial European Lawyers Tennis Tournament in Rome. The team, captained by retired solicitor Russell Miller, comprised Peter Morton, partner at London firm K&L Gates, Clive Borthwick, ...
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Nationwide probate deal
The Law Society has published a joint protocol with the Nationwide Building Society to assist in the winding up of estates. The protocol is the first such agreement to be reached with a building society, although similar arrangements are already in place with banks HSBC and ...