Investigate law firm after ‘untruthful’ asylum case, says top judge – Daily Telegraph

“One of the country’s most senior judges has asked a legal regulator to consider striking off a law firm over its last-minute bids to block the deportation of failed asylum seekers.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

High Court asks SRA to consider firm’s fitness to practise after contempt ruling – Legal Futures

“The incoming Lord Chief Justice has asked the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to consider a law firm’s continuing fitness to practise having found its senior partner in contempt of court.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 9th August 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Appeal court criticises SRA as it raises possibilty of more time to challenge interventions – Legal Futures

“There may be circumstances in which the eight-day period solicitors have to challenge interventions into their practices should be extended, the Court of Appeal has suggested.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 19th July 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Cost of practising as a solicitor to rise sharply – Legal Futures

“The cost of practising as a solicitor is set to rise at a rate of more than four times inflation, if the Law Society’s council approves figures that will be put before it later this week.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 8th July 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar gets into shape for ABSs – Law Society’s Gazette

“The Bar Standards Board is simplifying criteria for approving new business entities, ahead of an application to become a licensing authority for alternative business structures.”

Full story

Law Soceity’s Gazette, 28th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

SRA and Legal Services Board tussle over ABS application process – Legal Futures

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) has been critical of the length of the time the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has taken to approve alternative business structures (ABSs), it has emerged.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 20th June 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SDT rulings send out warning to law firms over relationships with debt recovery companies – Legal Futures

“Law firms must not allow arrangements with debt recovery companies to compromise their independence, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned, after two solicitors were fined heavily for allowing litigation to be carried out in their name.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 17th June 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Chambers becomes first ABS licensed by the SRA without a solicitor – Legal Futures

“A London chambers has become the first alternative business structure (ABS) licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority that does not have any solicitors.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 11th June 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

LSB responds to consultation by revising plans for regulation of special bodies – Legal Services Board

“Special bodies – including not-for profit agencies and community interest companies –
providing reserved legal activities will not become licensed under the Legal Services Act 2007
until at least April 2015, the LSB confirms today [5 December].”

Full story (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 5th December 2012

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

UK Tour Lawcast #1: Andrew Hopper QC on the regulation of solicitors by the SRA – Charon QC

“Today I talk with Andrew Hopper QC about the regulatory framework for solicitors, the Code of Practice, the strengths and shortcomings of the Solicitors regulation Authority and the need for legal education to be improved with good training for prospective lawyers in ethics – the morals and not simply the rules.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 31st October 2012

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.

SRA wins appeal for dishonesty strike-off – Law Society’s Gazette

“The Solicitors Regulation Authority has successfully appealed to the High Court to have a lawyer struck off the roll for dishonesty, overturning an ‘unduly lenient’ Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal verdict.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 16th October 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Can sole practitioners survive in the new legal marketplace? – The Guardian

“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.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Tesco law’ approvals hit double figures as big-name applicants face delay frustration – Legal Week

“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.”

Full story

Legal Week, 3rd August 2012

Source: www.legalweek.com

Regulators agree to share more information – Bar Standards Board

“Regulators from across the legal, accountancy, financial and property sectors have signed a formal agreement that will allow even greater sharing of information.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 4th May 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Wait for ABSs is over: Tesco law is here – The Guardian

“Alternative business structures will bring subtle, but significant changes in the way law is practised.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd April 2012

Souce: www.guardian.co.uk

SRA confirms debut trio of licensed alternative business structures – Legal Week

“The first three alternative business structures (ABS) to be licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have been confirmed today (March 28), as the reforms ushered in by the Legal Services Act continue to gather pace.”

Full story

Legal Week, 28th March 2012

Source: www.legalweek.com

Agreement reached on QASA – Bar Standards Board

“Agreement on a joint scheme to assure the quality of criminal advocacy has been reached by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Bar Standards Board (BSB) and ILEX Professional Standards (IPS).”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 23rd March 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Regulators approve new scheme to measure quality at criminal Bar – Legal Week

“A controversial new scheme for criminal barristers that could see QCs paid the same as leading juniors is a step closer to coming into effect after being approved by a trio of legal regulators.”

Full story

Legal Week, 26th March 2012

Source: www.legalweek.com

Outrage at £2.60 wage proposal for trainees – Law Society’s Gazette

“Trainee solicitors could be paid as little as £2.60 an hour in their first year under an amendment to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s proposals for ending the minimum wage. The Law Society’s Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) today condemned the move as another step towards making the legal profession the ‘preserve of the rich’.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 21st March 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Djanogly: Reform to solicitors to give UK consumers greater choice – Ministry of Justice

“UK consumers and businesses will find solicitors’ firms more competitive, more accessible and more efficient following new reforms to legal services. From today, radical reforms to the legal sector are being accelerated by the addition of the Solicitors Regulation Authority to the licensing authorities for the new Alternative Business Structures (ABSs).”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 3rd January 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk