Cutting costs will hit the quality of our legal system – The Times

“This week plans come before the House of Lords to expand the powers of Crown Prosecution Service caseworkers to handle a wide range of magistrates’ courts cases. It may be logical to argue that deploying these so-called designated case workers or DCWs for minor cases will free more experienced and qualified lawyers for more serious work. Yet inherently it means that the quality of representation for the prosecution will decline – because we are prepared to pay only junior staff to handle cases in the lower courts.”

Full story

The Times, 19th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Online special: Legal services reforms viewed serious threat to future of the Bar – Legal Week

Posted February 18th, 2008 in legal profession, legal services, special report by sally

“One-in-four lawyers believe the Legal Services Act is likely to spell the end of the Bar, with Tesco law and one-stop solicitor-advocates set for prominence in the post-reform marketplace. Claire Ruckin reports on the latest Big Question survey.”

Full story

Legal Week, 14th February 2008

Source: www.legalweek.com

Regulating barristers of the future: Bar Standards Board consults on the impact of the Legal Services Act – Bar Standards Board

Posted February 8th, 2008 in barristers, legal services, press releases by sally

“The way in which barristers provide services to consumers may change considerably following proposals being published today.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 5th February 2008

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Borough to become first ‘private practice’ council – The Lawyer

Posted February 4th, 2008 in legal services, local government, news by sally

“A London borough is remodelling its legal services department to mirror that of a private sector law firm.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 4th February 2008

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Letter from the Chairman of the Bar – The Bar Council

Posted January 23rd, 2008 in barristers, costs, legal services, news by sally

“The Chairman of the Bar has today (21 January) responded to the letter from the Legal Services Commission dealing with VHCC Contracts.”

Letter from the Chairman (PDF)

The Bar Council, 21st January 2008

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Miners hit by compensation failures – The Lawyer

Posted January 16th, 2008 in compensation, industrial injuries, legal services, miners, news by sally

“Sick miners and their families are losing out on compensation they are entitled to because of administrative failures, according to a critical report by Legal Services Complaints Commissioner Zahida Manzoor.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 15th January 2008

Source: www.thelawyer.com

2008 Bar Chairman Sets Out Vision For Barristers To Compete In Reformed Legal Services Market – The Bar Council

Posted December 11th, 2007 in barristers, legal services, news by sally

“Timothy Dutton QC, who takes over as Bar Council Chairman from 1 January, tonight (10 December) set out his agenda for the Bar in his inaugural speech to the 2007 Bar Council, by calling for barristers to compete in the reformed legal services market.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 10th December 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Seeking new frontiers – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 7th, 2007 in contracts, Law Society, legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“Andrew Holroyd hails a landmark ruling for legal aid lawyers and the launch of the law society’s international division.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 6th December 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Society wins appeal against LSC contract – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 7th, 2007 in contracts, legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“New civil legal aid fees may have to be scrapped in light of the appeal court’s ruling last week that the Legal Services Commission’s (LSC) unified contract is unlawful.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 6th December 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Regina (Law Society) v Legal Services Commission; Dexter Montague and Partners (a Firm) v Same – Times Law Reports

Posted December 3rd, 2007 in competition, EC law, law reports, legal services by sally

Regina (Law Society) v Legal Services Commission

“The virtually unlimited 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.”

The Times, 3rd December 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

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

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

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

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

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.”

Full story

The Times, 20th November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

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.”

Full story

The Times, 8th November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

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.”

Full story

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.”

Full story

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.”

Full story

The Times, 25th October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

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.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th October 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk