Category: legal services

R (Law Society) v Legal Services Commission; Dexter Montague and Partners (a firm) v Same [2007] EWCA Civ 1264

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

R (Law Society) v Legal Services Commission; Dexter Montague and Partners (a firm) v Same – WLR Daily

Posted November 30th, 2007 in competition, EC law, law reports, legal services by sally

“The unilateral power of amendment given to the Legal Services Commission in its new unified contract with solicitors wishing to undertake publicly funded civil work was incompatible with the requirement of transparency in the award of contracts by public authorities.”

WLR Daily, 30th November 2007

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note: once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Survey finds high satisfaction with barristers’ services – The Bar Council

Posted November 23rd, 2007 in barristers, legal services, press releases by sally

“Barristers are delivering good services to their professional and lay clients, according to a new study published today.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 22nd November 2007

Speech at the Legal Services Consultative Panel standing conference on legal education – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 22nd, 2007 in legal education, legal services, speeches by sally

“Bridget Prentice spoke at the Legal Services Consultative Panel standing conference on legal education about implications of the Legal Services Act for legal education and training.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 21st November 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Protecting the country’s silver – The Times

Posted November 20th, 2007 in legal services, parliament, special report by sally

“Lord Hunt of Wirral tells Edward Fennell about the dogged, systematic and determined work on the Legal Services Bill.”

The Times, 20th November 2007

Legal Services Act 2007

Posted November 14th, 2007 in legal services, legislation by sally

Legal Services Act 2007 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Who will police the lawyers now? Only a non-lawyer need apply . . . – The Times

Posted November 9th, 2007 in legal profession, legal services, special report by sally

“Forget the McCanns, the inquest into the death of the Diana, Princess of Wales, or Heather Mills’s outburst against the media. The real story in recent days is the arrival on the statute book of the Legal Services Act which has received Royal Assent. Dry as it sounds, this piece of legislation heralds a revolution in how legal services will be delivered to the public.”

The Times, 8th November 2007

Legal Services Act given royal assent – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 31st, 2007 in bills, consumer protection, legal services, news by sally

“An independent body which will handle consumer complaints about legal services in England and Wales is now a step closer under new legislation approved today.”

Ministry of Justice press release, 30th October 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Legal Services Bill prepares for Royal Assent – Legal Week

Posted October 29th, 2007 in bills, legal services, news by sally

“The Government’s controversial Legal Services Bill is on the brink of becoming law after the long-awaited legislation finally passed through Parliament this week.”

Legal Week, 26th October 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Parliament approves legal services reforms – The Times

Posted October 26th, 2007 in bills, legal services, news by sally

“The controversial Legal Services Bill is now awaiting Royal Assent after the House of Lords approved amendments.”

The Times, 25th October 2007

Bill reaches denouement – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 26th, 2007 in bills, legal services, news by sally

“The Legal Services Bill headed towards its end-game this week in the wake of the House of Lords defeating the government on three key issues, two of which look likely to lead to concessions.”

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th October 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ministers lose legal shakeup vote – BBC News

Posted October 18th, 2007 in legal profession, legal services, news, parliament by sally

“Ministers have lost a series of votes in the House of Lords over plans to regulate lawyers in England and Wales.”

BBC News, 17th October 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New Bar Quality Panel ‘Will Raise Standards’ – Vos – The Bar Council

Posted October 16th, 2007 in barristers, legal services, news, quality assurance by sally

“A new advisory panel being launched by the Bar Council today will help maintain the Bar’s reputation for excellence in legal advice and representation, it said.”

The Bar Council, 15th October 2007

Bill to regulate solicitors ‘risks another miners’ compensation fiasco’ – The Times

Posted October 15th, 2007 in consumer protection, legal services, news, solicitors, trade unions by sally

“Plans for a shake-up of the legal profession, to be debated by MPs today, could lead to another fiasco like the miners’ compensation scheme, because trade unions would be exempt from consumer safeguards, Conservative MPs say.”

The Times, 15th October 2007

Dawn of a new era – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 5th, 2007 in competition, legal profession, legal services, special report by sally

“As the Legal Services Bill reaches its final Parliamentary lap, Neil Rose looks at what concessions the government has made to ensure this groundbreaking legislation becomes law.”

Law Society’s Gazette, 4th October 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Vos lays out Vision for Future of Justice – Bar Council

Posted October 2nd, 2007 in barristers, fees, legal services, press releases by sally

“Chairman of the Bar Council, Geoffrey Vos QC will today outline his vision for the future of justice, calling for the Bar to work alongside Government as part of the public service system.”

Press release

Bar Council, 2nd October 2007

Chairman’s end of summer report to all members of the Bar – The Bar Council

Posted September 14th, 2007 in barristers, fees, legal services by sally

“The Chairman of the Bar Council, Geoffrey Vos QC, is today sending out a letter to all members of the Bar providing a report on developments over the summer. This includes progress on matters such as Graduated Fees, VHCCs and the Legal Services Bill.”

Full text of letter

The Bar Council, 13th September 2007

Chancery gains – The Lawyer

Posted September 12th, 2007 in barristers, legal services, news by sally

“Despite the normal doom-mongering, the chancery bar is responding well to modern challenges, says Michael Todd QC.”

The Lawyer, 10th September 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Reform school – The Lawyer

Posted September 12th, 2007 in barristers, legal aid, legal services, special report by sally

“As the Carter and Clementi reforms start to take effect, how will the commercial bar fare under the new regime? Industry experts consider their likely impact.”

The Lawyer, 10th September 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Down with ‘Tesco law’ – a call to arms – The Times

Posted August 20th, 2007 in legal services, news, solicitors by sally

“Plans to deregulate the legal market may threaten the existence of small practitioners but they can compete on service, says one High Street lawyer.”

The Times, 20th August 2007