Call for ‘urgent action’ on children’s services – Law Society’s Gazette

“A group of 18 legal, medical and child care organisations has called for urgent action to reform the delivery of court services to children in family proceedings.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 5th August 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal aid clients left in limbo after payment changes – BBC News

Posted August 5th, 2010 in asylum, immigration, legal aid, legal representation, legal services, news by sally

“Hundreds of lawyers no longer advise vulnerable clients as changes in legal aid payments have forced many to abandon the work, the BBC has learned.”

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BBC News, 5th August 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid lawyers facing fight to survive after tendering shake-up – The Guardian

Posted July 14th, 2010 in legal aid, legal profession, legal services, news, tenders by sally

“This week is crunch time for legal aid lawyers. The results of a big Legal Service Commission (LSC) tendering exercise means that firms could face closure and lawyers end up on the dole.”

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The Guardian, 14th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Refugee and Migrant Justice clients lose High Court bid – Law Society’s Gazette

“The High Court has rejected a bid to allow collapsed immigration advice charity Refugee and Migrant Justice to carry on representing its clients until their cases are transferred to other firms.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th July 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Web-savvy lawyers stand to gain online – The Guardian

Posted June 29th, 2010 in advertising, internet, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“Many solicitors have websites, but few are really capitalising on the web’s reach to attract, and keep, clients.”

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The Guardian, 29th June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Time to debate how we can sustain access to justice for the poor – The Guardian

Posted June 24th, 2010 in legal aid, legal services, news, pro bono work by sally

“Securing legal advice for all in a time of austerity puts a responsibility on everyone in the profession.”

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The Guardian, 23rd June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Coalition government to review legal services reforms – Law Society’s Gazette

“The coalition government is reviewing key reforms to legal complaints handling and the introduction of alternative business structures, as part of a wider review of regulatory measures inherited from the previous administration.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th June 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

What alternative business structures mean for the legal profession – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2010 in alternative business structures, legal services, news by sally

“Soon, perhaps as early as October next year, provision of legal services in England and Wales is set to change radically with the introduction of alternative business structures (ABS). Ownership of legal services providers – currently restricted to lawyers – will be open to anyone deemed ‘fit or proper’. This could be an insurance company or a supermarket – hence the sobriquet ‘Tesco law’.”

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The Guardian, 9th June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Experimental chambers BarFutures set to close – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 9th, 2010 in barristers, internet, legal services, news by sally

“Experimental virtual chambers BarFutures is to close its doors at the end of June after two years because of a ‘lack of appetite for change within the profession’, the Gazette has learned.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 8th June 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Podcast: Chris Kenny, Chief Executive of the Legal Services Board – Charon QC

Posted June 3rd, 2010 in legal profession, legal services, Legal Services Board, podcasts by sally

“Today (2 June) I talk to Chris Kenny, CEO of the Legal Services Board. Chris Kenny discusses the role and the function of the Legal Services Board and whether there is a need for it. He talks about the opportunities and threats to lawyers and legal services over the next five years. He looks at the impact on the Rule of Law given the proposed cuts to civil and criminal legal aid. He discusses the globalisation of legal services and international regulatory standards. Lastly, a bit of futurology, Chris discusses the likely legal landscape in the next five years.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 2nd June 2010

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

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

Law Society president warns of looming threat to profession’s independence – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 27th, 2010 in Law Society, legal profession, legal services, news, speeches by sally

“The Legal Services Board’s proximity to government could threaten the independence of the legal profession, Law Society president Robert Heslett warned last night.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 26th May 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Podcast Inside Track: Nicholas Green QC – Chairman of the Bar on the future of the legal profession – Charon QC

Posted May 17th, 2010 in barristers, legal profession, legal services, podcasts by sally

“Nicholas Green QC outlines his vision for the future of the Bar, his optimism that it will continue to develop and grow and his belief in the need for it to become more commercial, while holding on to the highest professional standards. He discusses the impact of the Legal Services Act, including the ability of barristers to go into partnership with solicitors, the issue of direct access to the Bar plus the increasing flexibility of career routes into the profession.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 17th May 2010

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

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

What the legal services reforms could mean for how bar does business – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 29th, 2010 in barristers, legal services, news by sally

“The Legal Services Act, in combination with changes to the bar’s Code of Conduct agreed last month by the Bar Standards Board, herald a historic sea change for the bar. They give barristers the opportunity to practise in new ways that could radically change the relationship they have with solicitors.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 29th April 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council launches ‘ProcureCo’ model as Bar looks to evolve business structures – The Bar Council

Posted April 27th, 2010 in barristers, legal services, news by sally

“The Bar Council of England and Wales, has launched a model for new business structures for the Bar, dubbed ‘ProcureCo’. This follows historic rule changes made by the Bar’s independent regulatory arm, the Bar Standards Board (BSB), which gave barristers the ability to provide their services in different ways and to structure themselves in ways which had previously been prohibited.”

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The Bar Council, 26th April 2010

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

BSB launches survey on the future of the profession – Bar Standards Board

Posted April 20th, 2010 in barristers, consultations, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) today (16 April) launched a survey of the profession on opinions and expectations in relation to the new business structures permitted under the Legal Services Act 2007. The BSB has teamed up with leading market research group YouGov to create and administer the survey, which all barristers, clerks and practice managers will be invited to complete.”

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Bar Standards Board, 16th April 2010

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Historic Liberalisation of Permitted Practice at the Bar – Bar Standards Board

Posted April 6th, 2010 in barristers, law firms, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“The Legal Services Board approves Bar Standards Board applications designed to relax provisions in Code of Conduct for barristers’ working practices.”

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Bar Standards Board, 1st April 2010

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Most consumers ‘cannot tell good lawyer from bad one’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 4th, 2010 in consumer protection, legal services, news by sally

“Most consumers could not tell a good lawyer from a bad one, according to Ministry of Justice research published this week.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 4th March 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BSB seeks views on authorisation to practise arrangements – Bar Standards Board

Posted March 1st, 2010 in barristers, consultations, legal services, news by sally

“The BSB has issued a consultation paper seeking views on proposals for revisions to barristers’ practising arrangements. The Legal Services Act 2007 requires individuals wishing to provide reserved legal activities (such as exercising a right of audience and the conduct of litigation) to be authorised to do so by the relevant approved regulator.”

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Bar Standards Board, 1st March 2010

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

MPs attack ‘lax’ Legal Services Commission – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 2nd, 2010 in auditors, legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“The Public Accounts Committee has today lambasted the Legal Services Commission for its handling of legal aid funds.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd February 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Barristers ‘gearing up for a revolution in the way they provide their services’ – The Bar Council

Posted January 25th, 2010 in barristers, legal profession, legal services, press releases by sally

“Barristers in England and Wales are preparing themselves for major changes in the ways they provide legal services, the new Chairman of the Bar Council will say today.”

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The Bar Council, 23rd January 2010

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk