“The president of the Supreme Court has urged the legal profession not to lose sight of its fundamental principles in the rush for modernisation, warning about the risks of pressure from “hard-nosed businessmen” who may invest in law firms.’
Legal Futures, 22nd February 2013
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
“Anyone concerned over the need to check the power of the police and prosecution authorities by providing a counter-balance holding these state funded entities to account may find this paper helpful, writes Robin Murray. It is a proposal to save millions of pounds of tax-payers’ money whilst at the same time preserving independent access to justice, an essential pre-requisite to prevent abuse and injustice to which anyone of us, high or low can become a victim.”
LegalVoice, 5th February 2013
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
“As the Skills Minister Matthew Hancock gives his backing for Apprentice Lawyers, Nick Skeet of Skills for Justice discusses the impact on the industry and what this could mean for legal aid.”
LegalVoice, 30th January 2013
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
“The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has urged the legal profession to simplify its complaints procedures, following the publication of research showing that only one in eight dissatisfied customers goes on to make a formal complaint.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 28th January 2013
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Stephensons Solicitors, a leading legal aid firm in the north-west, secured approval as an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) early in the new year, and has already appointed its first non-lawyer partner.”
LegalVoice, 17th January 2013
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
“In case you missed the memo, legal services are changing. You no longer need to be a lawyer to own a law firm, which means legal advice has become an exciting new commodity for big-brand employers.”
The Guardian, 12th November 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Getting the Incentives Right (PDF)
Speech by Chris Kenny, Chief Executive, Legal Services Board
Westminster Legal Policy Forum, 18th October 2012
Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk
“Sole practitioners have been having a hard time in the wake of the Legal Services Act 2007, which opened the door for alternative business structures (ABSs). These new forms of legal practice have given household names like the Co-op and the AA the opportunity to expand their legal offerings to consumers and have allowed law firms to be managed and owned by non-lawyers.”
The Guardian, 8th October 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The immediate past-president of the American Bar Association has strongly denounced alternative business structures, arguing that non-lawyer investment in law firms compromises the client’s best interests and undermines professional independence.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 4th October 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Family law’s commercial and legal landscape is changing dramatically with the legal aid reforms, the continuing impact of the recession, competition from ABSs and potential legislative changes affecting everyone from the richest to the poorest.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 20th September 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“The number of alternative business structures (ABS) approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) reached double figures last week, as a group of high-profile applicants continue to wait for their licence confirmation.”
Legal Week, 3rd August 2012
Source: www.legalweek.com
“Tonight (28 July) I am talking with Alex Novarese, Editor in Chief of Legal Week. The legal world is changing. Legal news reporting is changing – the way legal services are delivered is changing and even the Bar is getting in on the act to compete for work.”
Charon QC, 28th July 2012
Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com
“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.
“A ban on the referral fees blamed for creating a ‘compensation culture’ will be difficult to police and may not even be effective, regulators have warned.”
Daily Telegraph, 29th July 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“A new law firm which promises clients fixed fees and immediate face-to-face meetings with barristers has become the latest alternative business structure (ABS). Red Bar Law was formed in September last year and applied to the Solicitors Regulation Authority for ABS status in January. Today the SRA confirmed it has become the ninth organisation to be granted a licence, which will be effective from 10 July.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 23rd July 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“The intention of this consultation document is to ensure that there are adequate compensation arrangements for SRA regulated ABS firms after 31 December 2012.
Also included in the document is a draft Order published in accordance with section 70 of the LSA.”
Legal Services Board, 14th June 2012
Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk
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