Tag Results

The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s application to become a licensing body for alternative business structures has been endorsed by the Legal Services Board’s consumer watchdog, but with reservations. The Legal Services Consumer Panel expressed disappointment that some recommendations it made during consultations were not adopted.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has substantially reworked its new rule on conflicts of interest, which will come into force later this year. Legal Futures has had advanced sight of the 563-page SRA Handbook ahead of its publication on 6 April, although the new Code of Conduct is just 54 pages.

Law firms and alternative business structures should not be allowed to dodge regulation by establishing separate businesses to handle unreserved work, the Legal Services Consumer Panel said this week. The panel also appeared to rebuke Co-operative Legal Services – whose stated intention is to be one of the first ABSs – for calling for freedom in how businesses choose to provide unreserved work.

The Law Society is preparing for a government push to make law firms which engage in lobbying work breach confidentiality by making them disclose details of their clients. Last month Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg confirmed the Coalition will legislate in 2011 to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists.

Why is it that solicitors have to jump through so many regulatory hoops when taking on a client, as compared to other professionals and especially unregulated legal providers. Should the “act” not override the “actor”? It may all be unfair on solicitors, reckons Martin Gregory of Legal Futures Associate Lateral Law.