‘McKenzie friends’ must be banned because courts are being overrun by untrained advocates, senior politicians say – Daily Telegraph

‘A new breed of untrained legal advocates who are ripping off the public with “flawed” and “dangerous” legal advice should be banned, lawyers’ leaders and politicians have urged ministers.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Concerns raised about Calderbank offers being used to assess litigation conduct – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Reservations have been expressed about plans to change the rules for determining costs at the end of family proceedings.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 5th November 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New law “to put more pressure” on solicitors’ NDA advice – Legal Futures

‘A new law ensuring that employees signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) receive independent legal advice will “increase the onus” on solicitors to act properly when drafting them, the government has said.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 30th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Mega-survey highlights need to grow “legal confidence” – Legal Futures

‘The largest legal needs survey ever run in England and Wales shows what a difference professional advice and ‘legal confidence’ among consumers makes to the outcome of their matters.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 30th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Police bail decline revealed as Law Society say worrying trend means violent criminals are being released with no restrictions – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 10th, 2019 in bail, Law Society, news, police, statistics, victims, violence by tracey

‘Thousands of crime suspects are being released by police without any restrictions and potentially putting victims and the public in danger, new research suggests. In 2017, the law was changed in a bid to limit the time someone spends on bail to 28 days, offering police the chance to instead release someone under investigation (RUI) for an unlimited period of time and without having to place any restrictions on them.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 9th October 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

SDT president: Concerns over civil standard of proof “misplaced” – Legal Futures

‘Concerns over the decision of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) to move from the criminal to the civil standard of proof are “misplaced”, the tribunal’s president has said.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 26th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MPs and lawyers call for investigation into privatised visa system which allows firms to make millions – The Independent

Posted June 24th, 2019 in auditors, contracting out, immigration, Law Society, news, parliament, visas by tracey

‘Cross party politicians back demands for urgent review into Home Office partnership with French firm Sopra Steria following warnings legal migrants risk being ‘thrown into the hostile environment’

Full Story

The Independent, 23rd June 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Law Society’s defence of NDA guidance draws heavy fire – Legal Futures

‘The Law Society’s defence of its practice note on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) has not silenced its critics, with the leading academic in the field accusing Chancery Lane of “putting PR before principles”.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 3rd June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“No ethical leadership”: Law Society blasted over NDA guidance – Legal Futures

‘Law Society guidance on the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) demonstrates an absence of “ethical leadership” and shows why the profession cannot be allowed to sort such issues on its own, a leading academic has claimed.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 15th March 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

IWD: Law Society sets out blueprint for gender equality – Legal Futures

Posted March 8th, 2019 in equality, law firms, Law Society, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘The Law Society has published 39 recommendations to help legal businesses deliver equality for women in the law, amid continuing reports of discrimination and harassment.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 8th March 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

LSB rules “could stop Law Society from criticising SRA” – Legal Futures

‘The Law Society has said it is “deeply concerned” that new rules proposed by the Legal Services Board (LSB) could largely prevent it from either lobbying or criticising the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 24th January 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law Society’s £30m cut of practising fees faces scrutiny – Legal Futures

Posted December 6th, 2018 in fees, Law Society, Legal Services Board, news, solicitors by sally

‘The £30m that the Law Society levies on solicitors for its representative work is to be put under the microscope by the Legal Services Board (LSB) next year.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 6th December 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SFO will not appeal landmark litigation privilege ruling – OUT-LAW.com

‘The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) will not appeal to the Supreme Court last month’s ruling that documents generated in connection with an investigation into the Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) were protected by litigation privilege, it has confirmed.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 3rd October 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Justice ‘only for the wealthy’: Law Society condemns legal aid cuts – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2018 in budgets, Law Society, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

‘It is increasingly difficult for defendants and claimants to find solicitors prepared to represent them due to government legal aid cuts, the Law Society has warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 28th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal Services Board slaps Law Society with first ever public censure – Legal Futures

Posted June 1st, 2018 in Law Society, legal services, Legal Services Board, news, standards by sally

‘The Legal Services Board has handed out a public censure for the first time, after finding that the Law Society had governance arrangements in place that could have interfered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 31st May 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Cry freedom: SRA wants to become separate legal entity from Law Society – Legal Futures

‘Legal regulators have urged the Legal Services Board (LSB) to use its review of the internal governance rules (IGR) to give them greater independence from their representative bodies.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 16th February 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law Society joins battle over whether third-party capture insurer still has to pay solicitors’ costs – Litigation Futures

Posted January 29th, 2018 in appeals, costs, insurance, Law Society, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Law Society has been granted permission to intervene in the Supreme Court’s hearing of a case that made a major strike against the practice of third-party capture in personal injury.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 29th January 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Law Society urges end to enforced medical treatment of vulnerable people – The Guardian

‘Vulnerable people sectioned under the Mental Health Act are being subjected to medical treatment without consent and are not protected by effective legal safeguards, the Law Society has warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Society to introduce training quality committee in wake of setbacks – Legal Futures

Posted January 15th, 2018 in Law Society, legal education, news, quality assurance, trainee solicitors by sally

‘The Law Society is to launch a new ‘quality and standards in education’ committee, after a year in which its training arrangements have come under sustained pressure.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 12th January 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Brexit: solicitors welcome ‘breathing space’ deal – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Lawyers have welcomed with relief the declaration on ‘legal certainty and clarity’ – including mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments – in the Brexit phase 1 agreement reached on Friday. However the Law Society cautioned that the ‘real complexity’ of the deal lies ahead.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 10th December 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk