Market Trends in Legal Services – Legal Services Board

“The Legal Services Board – the independent body overseeing the regulation of lawyers in England and Wales – is today releasing its Interim Baseline Report on the Market Impact of the Legal Services Act 2007.”

Full story (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 4th April 2012

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Related links:

Market impacts of the Legal Services Act – Interim Baseline Report (PDF)

Research programme 2012/13 (PDF)

Legal Services Board concedes ‘no big bang’ in five years since LSA – The Lawyer

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) has admitted that the 2007 Legal Services Act (LSA) has not resulted in sweeping changes to the profession, stating in a five-year progress report that it is ‘early days’ to judge its impact.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 4th April 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Legal Services Board’s Role Must Now be Confined – Bar Council Responds to Triennial Review – The Bar Council

Posted April 3rd, 2012 in barristers, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has responded to the Government’s Triennial Review of the Legal Services Board (LSB) and called for it to be actively discouraged by the Government from extending its remit beyond that envisaged by Parliament.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 2nd April 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Related link: Full consultation response (PDF

Legal Services Board and Office for Legal Complaints triennial reviews – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 10th, 2012 in complaints, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“The Government’s response to the Public Administration Select Committee report ‘Smaller Government: Shrinking the Quango state’ sets out the plans for reforming public bodies. It includes new triennial review requirements for non-departmental public bodies (NDPB).”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 10th January 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

LSB gives go ahead for barristers to manage ABSs – Law Society’s Gazette

“The Legal Services Board has approved the Bar Standards Board’s application for changes to the bar’s code of conduct to allow barristers to be managers or employees of alternative business structures.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 26th August 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

LSB to make a recommendation for Order under S.80 of Legal Services Act – Legal Services Board

“The LSB has today (17 August) published its decision document and the Order that it will recommend to the Lord Chancellor should be made under section 80 of the Legal Services Act 2007 about the appeal mechanism for decisions of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) if it is designated as a Licensing Authority. This follows the consultation Alternative business structures: appeal arrangements which ran from 5 May 2011 to 2 June 2011 and our decision to recommend to the Lord Chancellor that the SRA should be designated as a Licensing Authority.”

Full story

Legal Services Board, 17th August 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Alternative Business Structures (ABS) research report published – Legal Services Board

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today published its latest thinking on the impact of Alternative Business Structures (ABS) on the legal services market. The document, informed by engagement with regulators, existing providers and potential new entrants, brings together evidence and current thinking on how the market may develop following the emergence of the first ABS from 6 October 2011.”

Full story

Legal Services Board, 12th August 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Pupillage funding requirements: increase of minimum pupillage award to £12,000 – Bar Standards Board

Posted June 7th, 2011 in Legal Services Board, news, pupillage, remuneration by michael

“The Legal Services Board has approved the application of the Bar Standards Board to increase the minimum pupillage award from £10,000 to £12,000 for a 12-months pupillage. The new rule comes into effect on 1 September 2011.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 7th June 2011

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Bar Council Stands by Calls to Ban Referral Fees and Urges LSB to Reconsider – The Bar Council

Posted June 2nd, 2011 in barristers, fees, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has called for the Legal Services Board (LSB) to reconsider the outcome of its consultation on referral fees, which has concluded that there need not be an outright ban.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 1st June 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Lawyers wrestle once again with vexed question of referral fees – The Guardian

Posted May 31st, 2011 in advertising, fees, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“Should lawyers be allowed to pay for work referred to them? The debate remains as heated today as it was in 2004 when the Law Society, under pressure from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), first allowed solicitors to pay so-called referral fees.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

LSB sets out approach to safeguarding quality in the provision of legal services – Legal Services Board

“Plans form response to the advice of the Consumer Panel on quality.”

Full press release

Legal Services Board, 12th May 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

LSB consults on appeal arrangements for SRA as a licensing authority – Legal Services Board

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today published a consultation on proposals to establish the appeals mechanism in relation to decisions made by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) should it be designated as a Licensing Authority under the Alternative Business Structures (ABS) framework. Annexed to the consultation is an impact assessment.”

Full story

Legal Services Board, 5th May 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

LSB consults on process for reviewing decisions about licensing applications – Legal Services Board

“As part of the next stages of completing the licensing regime for Alternative Business Structures (ABS) the LSB has today published a new consultation focusing on reviewing decisions about licensing applications.”

Full story

Legal Services Board, 3rd May 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

LSB sets out approach to overseeing regulation – Legal Services Board

Posted April 26th, 2011 in consultations, legal services, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“The LSB is today launching a new discussion paper setting out its approach to ensuring standards of regulation in the legal services sector.”

Full story

Legal Services Board, 26th April 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

LSB publishes literature review of legal needs – Legal Services Board

“The LSB has conducted a review of existing research literature into the needs of different groups of legal services consumers. The review summarises the legal needs of a variety of different groups, their methods of accessing legal services and where their needs are not met. The review helps to identify gaps in existing research and will be used to target our future research programme.”

The Legal Needs of Consumer Groups (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 21st April 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

LSB assumes an oversight role in the regulation of immigration advice and services –

Posted April 4th, 2011 in immigration, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today (1 April) assumed a new responsibility under the Legal Services Act 2007. Commencement of Schedule 18 of the Act sees the LSB take on regulatory oversight for immigration advice and services provided by lawyers authorised by Approved Regulators.”

Full story

Legal Services Board, 1st April 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

If lawyers’ independence starts being undermined, we are in a danger zone – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2011 in citizens advice bureaux, legal profession, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“Changes concerning the Legal Services Board and Citizens Advice, including the closure of the LSB’s website, have brought the independence issue to the fore again.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal bodies fear government interference – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 10th, 2011 in internet, legal ombudsman, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“The independence of the legal profession is being threatened by government ‘diktats’ ordering that the websites of three legal quangos be closed, the chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) told a House of Lords debate this week.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 10th March 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Alternative business structures face fines of up to £150m – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 7th, 2011 in alternative business structures, fines, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“Alternative business structures could be fined up to £150m and individuals working in them up to £50m, under plans outlined by the Legal Services Board.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 4th January 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

What will the Legal Services Board do about referral fees? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 14th, 2010 in conveyancing, fees, insurance, Legal Services Board, news, personal injuries by sally

“Is the referral fee debate over? Two reports submitted recently to the Legal Services Board (LSB) would make one think that it is, even though the board itself has still to reach a final decision.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 14th June 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk