Category: legal services

#Without Prejudice – The Law Podcast 1: Assange, EAW, British Bill of Rights, Oversupply of lawyers and Silk – Charon QC

Posted February 25th, 2011 in barristers, extradition, human rights, legal services, podcasts, warrants by sally

“We covered a great deal of ground in this first episode of this round the table podcast: Assange verdict on extradition, European Arrest Warrants – The British Bill of Rights and the ECHR – The oversupply of lawyers …and we even had time to consider Garrow’s Law and Silk the BBC tv dramas on law and lawyers.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 24th February 2011

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

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

Oversupply of lawyers to drive down costs, says Green – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 23rd, 2011 in legal services, news, paralegals, remuneration by sally

“The oversupply of qualified lawyers denied entry to the profession has led to a ‘burgeoning body of paralegals’ that will have a profound effect on solicitors and barristers, former bar chairman Nick Green QC said last week.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Professional Practice Committee guidance on the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 – The Bar Council

Posted February 23rd, 2011 in barristers, legal services, news, professional conduct by sally

“Guidance for barristers produced by the Professional Practice Committee of the Bar Council on the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 (the ‘Regulations’) has been sent to all Heads of Chambers this week.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 22nd February 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Rethinking the legal profession in the 21st century – future models for delivering legal services – justice for users – new structures on old foundations – Speech by Lord Justice Carnwath

Posted February 16th, 2011 in legal profession, legal services, news, speeches by sally

Rethinking the legal profession in the 21st century – future models for delivering legal services – justice for users – new structures on old foundations (PDF)

Speech by Lord Justice Carnwath, Senior President of Tribunals

Commonwealth Law Conference, 2011

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

How the self-employed criminal bar intends to compete with solicitors – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 27th, 2011 in barristers, criminal justice, legal services, news, solicitors by sally

“There are probably about 5,000 self-employed barristers and 1,000 higher court advocates active in criminal defence work. While the number of firms has dwindled substantially in the last few years, the number of barristers has increased, notwithstanding the fact that the work has diminished, mainly through the Crown Prosecution Service taking 25% of it in-house.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 27th January 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Why big brand legal services are bad news for solicitors – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2010 in alternative business structures, law firms, legal services, news by sally

“As the AA and Saga launch online portals, more than half of law firms say they expect to lose work to non-lawyer competitors.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Public sector lawyers split on Government spending cuts – The Lawyer

Posted October 21st, 2010 in budgets, legal services, local government, news by sally

“The implications of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) for local government legal services will be immense.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 20th October 2010

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Do ‘no win, no fee’ personal injury ads go too far? – The Guardian

Posted October 12th, 2010 in advertising, legal services, news, personal injuries by sally

“Do advertisements for ‘no win, no fee’ personal injury (PI) services need curbing? They may not exactly be what John Logie Baird had in mind when he first transmitted moving images, but tackiness should not on its own be enough to shut down a route to injured people gaining access to justice. Nor to close off a lucrative source of income for the cash-strapped advertising industry.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Black and female young offenders ‘failed by legal advice’ – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2010 in legal services, minorities, news, prisons, young offenders by sally

“Black and female young offenders are being denied access to justice because legal advice in young offenders’ institutions is sometimes unavailable, a report shows.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New Legal Ombudsman warns rip-off lawyers – BBC News

Posted October 5th, 2010 in complaints, legal ombudsman, legal services, news by sally

“Lawyers who bring the industry into disrepute by charging huge prices for services will no longer get away with it, the new Legal Ombudsman has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th October 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Got a legal complaint? Now you can take it to the new legal ombudsman – The Guardian

Posted October 4th, 2010 in complaints, legal ombudsman, legal services, news by sally

“People who are dissatisfied with the service they have received from their lawyer can, from this Wednesday, complain to a legal ombudsman. The ombudsman can compel all regulated lawyers to comply with its investigations, and has the power to impose penalties ranging from apologising to a client, through to paying up to £30,000 compensation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ambulance-chasing lawyers facing curbs in review of health and safety rules – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 1st, 2010 in fees, health & safety, legal services, news, personal injuries by sally

“A review of health and safety laws by a Tory peer is understood to recommend that the activities of personal injury and negligence lawyers should be curbed. The recommendation is one of 40 in a review of health and safety legislation by Lord Young of Graffham, a former trade secretary in Margaret Thatcher’s Government.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st October 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Justice Minister supports ‘one stop shops’ for legal services – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 24th, 2010 in alternative business structures, legal services, Ministry of Justice, press releases by sally

“Speaking at an event hosted by the Law Society, Jonathan Djanogly stressed the importance of alternative business structures (ABS).”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 23rd September 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Law Society puts legal aid tender case to the High Court – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 23rd, 2010 in human rights, legal aid, legal services, news, tenders by sally

“The Law Society warned that the Legal Services Commission’s family tender process will restrict access to justice for victims of domestic abuse, forced marriage and children, as its judicial review of the tender process began in the High Court today.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 23rd September 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The changing relationship between solicitors and barristers – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 16th, 2010 in alternative business structures, barristers, legal profession, legal services, news, solicitors by sally

“In the debate about how the legal regulators should amend practising rules to allow solicitors and barristers to operate in the new structures modelled in the Legal Services Act 2007, some predicted that the reforms could alter forever the identity of lawyers and lead to fusion – ending the distinction between law firms and chambers. That has not happened, but does slow progress to date rule out greater upheaval in future?”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 16th September 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitors queue up to sue LSC – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 16th, 2010 in law firms, legal aid, legal services, news, solicitors, tenders by sally

“Pressure is mounting on the Legal Services Commission over its handling of the tender for civil legal aid contracts, as it faces a growing number of judicial review challenges to the process, and talks with the Law Society broke down.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 16th September 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

LSC reverses contract decision following judge’s warning – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 9th, 2010 in law firms, legal aid, legal services, news, tenders by sally

“The Legal Services Commission has averted one legal challenge to its tender process by awarding a social welfare contract to a Birmingham firm which sought a judicial review of the LSC’s initial decision not to make an award.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th September 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Firms seek to launch High Court challenge to LSC tender process – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 20th, 2010 in judicial review, law firms, legal aid, legal services, news, tenders by sally

“Some 31 firms across the north-east have joined forces in a bid to launch a High Court challenge to the Legal Services Commission’s recent family tender process, the Gazette has learned.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 19th August 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal aid cuts put access to justice at risk, say lawyers – The Guardian

Posted August 17th, 2010 in law firms, legal aid, legal representation, legal services, news, tenders by sally

“Thousands of the most vulnerable people risk being denied emergency access to free advice from lawyers following major changes to the way legal aid is delivered, family law experts warn today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th august 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Family judges alarmed over legal aid tender – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 10th, 2010 in family courts, judiciary, legal aid, legal services, news, tenders by sally

“The head of the family courts has warned the Legal Services Commission that he has been ‘inundated’ by family judges expressing serious concerns over the outcome of the family legal aid tender, in a letter seen by the Gazette.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th August 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk