MPs approve probate and conveyancing rights for legal executives – Legal Futures

‘The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) has won the approval of the House of Commons to grant its members rights to conduct reserved probate and conveyancing work.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 10th September 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“New normal” – what it means for the Bar – The Future of Law

Posted September 9th, 2014 in barristers, legal services, news by sally

We’ve read about it to the point of exasperation. The “new normal” for the legal services market. Basically, a shift in buying behaviours in a changing market environment, brought about by a compelling combination of external factors over a period of time, with increased competition from new market entrants thrown into the mix.

Full story

The Future of Law, 9th September 2014

Source: www.blogs.lexisnexis.co.uk

The Future of Legal Services Regulation – Legal Services Board

Posted September 8th, 2014 in legal services, Legal Services Board, news by sally

The Future of Legal Services Regulation (PDF)

Speech by Sir Michael Pitt, Chairman, Legal Services Board

Westminster Legal Policy Forum, 4th September 2014

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau 75 year anniversary: Geese too loud? Lost false teeth? We can help! Celebrating seven decades of the CAB – The Independent

‘In September 1939, the CAB was established with the creation of 200 emergency centres across the country. Today it deals with issues from the fallout of the bedroom tax, benefits cuts and fraud, but in wartime it helped to replace lost ration books and put wives and parents in touch with lost sons and husbands in prisoner-of-war camps.’

Full story

The Independent, 7th September 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

LSB caution on growth of paid McKenzie friends – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 5th, 2014 in legal services, McKenzie friends, news, remuneration by tracey

‘The oversight legal regulator has given a muted backing to the emergence of fee-charging McKenzie friends. Legal Services Board chairman Sir Michael Pitt (pictured) supported the suggestion that paid legal advisers should be recognised as a “legitimate feature” of the legal services market.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd September 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Changing legal education – OUP Blog

‘Martin Partington discussed a range of careers in his podcasts yesterday. Today [20 August], he tackles how new legal issues and developments in the professional environment have in turn changed organizational structures, rules and regulations, and aspects of legal education.’

Full story

OUP Blog, 20th August 2014

Source: www.blog.oup.com

End of the line for mediation? – New Law Journal

Posted August 1st, 2014 in budgets, dispute resolution, families, legal services, news by sally

‘Family mediation services are in decline & in need of urgent reform, says Graham Lyons.’

Full story

New Law Journal, 31st July 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Barrister led ABS: too much to take on? – The Future of Law

Posted August 1st, 2014 in alternative business structures, barristers, legal services, news by sally

‘There is a mystique to the Bar of England and Wales, designed to present a timeless image of legal practitioners. Working in rabbit warrens around the Temple, wearing robes and a horsehair wig, and dealing with only the highest levels of legal thought, it is a façade that conceals some very radical ambitions for change.’

Full story

The Future of Law, 31st July 2014

Source: www.futureoflaw.lexisnexis.co.uk

Legislation passed to ban PI inducements – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government has introduced legislation to clamp down on personal injury inducements from lawyers offering clients money or gifts such as iPads in exchange for pursuing claims.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th July 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Neuberger backs single regulator but criticises LSB for adding “cost and confusion” – Legal Futures

Posted June 25th, 2014 in consumer protection, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

‘The president of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, has backed calls for single legal regulator, while accusing the Legal Services Board (LSB) of adding to cost and confusion.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 25th June 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lord Chief Justice calls for single regulator – Legal Futures

Posted June 20th, 2014 in consumer protection, legal aid, legal profession, legal services, news by tracey

‘In a major speech on the future of law, the Lord Chief Justice said last night that “there has to be a single regulator” for the legal professions. Lord Thomas said he could not see any “practical” alternative, and he would be “very disappointed” if there was not a much simpler and cheaper system of regulation in 10 years’ time.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 20th June 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Poll finds law students backing legal profession to resist forces of change – Legal Week

Posted June 6th, 2014 in legal education, legal services, news, statistics by sally

‘Most law students believe the legal profession will be resistant to change during their careers, according to research that suggests the next generation of lawyers may be significantly more conservative than many commentators are predicting.’

Full story

Legal Week, 6th June 2014

Source: www.legalweek.com

How people resolve ‘legal’ problems – Legal Services Board

Posted May 28th, 2014 in legal services, Legal Services Board, news, statistics by sally

‘The Legal Services Board commissioned Professor Pascoe Pleasence and Dr Nigel Balmer to produce a statistical analysis of existing legal needs survey data to understand how consumers demographics, attitudes, capabilities and beliefs impact on their response to legal problems. How people resolve legal problems presents the findings of this analysis.’

Full story

Legal Services Board, 22nd May 2014

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Fewer than one in ten people with legal problems see a lawyer, major study finds – Legal Futures

Posted May 23rd, 2014 in legal services, news, statistics by sally

‘There is a huge unmet need for legal services among individual consumers, the most detailed ever study of the issue has revealed, with fewer than one in 10 people experiencing a legal problem seeking advice from a lawyer.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 23rd May 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MoJ rules out further reform of legal services regulation – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in consultations, legal profession, legal services, news by tracey

‘The government has ruled out immediate further changes to the framework for legal services regulation following the wide-ranging review launched by the Ministry of Justice last June.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 1st May 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Evolution or revolution – are we ready for a single legal services regulator? – Legal Services Board

Posted May 1st, 2014 in legal profession, legal services, Legal Services Board, news by sally

Evolution or revolution – are we ready for a single legal services regulator? (PDF)

David Edmonds, Chairman, Legal Services Board

Modern Law Magazine Conference, 29th April 2014

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

‘Culture change’ needed to embrace fee-charging McKenzie friends – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Fee-charging McKenzie friends increase access to justice and make up a “legitimate feature of the modern legal market”, according to a report published today by watchdog the Legal Services Consumer Panel. The president of the Law Society described the panel’s findings as “worrying”.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 17th April 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Funding Family Proceedings and Legal Services Orders – Family Law Week

‘Tony Ward, Family Law barrister with 3PB analyses the latest case law relating to Legal Services Orders under s.22ZA MCA 1973.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 18th March 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Rubin v Rubin – WLR Daily

Posted March 12th, 2014 in appeals, costs, divorce, financial provision, law reports, legal services by tracey

Rubin v Rubin: [2014] EWHC 611 (Fam);   [2014] WLR (D)  116

‘Under section 22ZA(3) of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, as inserted, the court could not make a costs allowance unless it was satisfied that without the amount of the allowance the applicant would not reasonably be able to obtain appropriate legal services for the purposes of the proceedings or any part of the proceedings, and for the purpose of that provision the court had to be satisfied in particular that the applicant was not reasonably able to secure a loan to pay for the services.’

WLR Daily, 10th March 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Right to conduct litigation spurs barrister’s high street direct access business – Legal Futures

Posted March 7th, 2014 in barristers, fees, legal services, news by tracey

‘One of the first barristers to receive authority from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to conduct litigation has said her fixed-fee direct access business has been so successful she plans to license the venture to other barristers.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 7th March 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk