Tag Results
Latest council to head for ABS status highlights growth potential
Monday, 26 October 2015A local authority legal department which recently warned that council lawyers are being forced to set up alternative business structures by restrictive rules on in-house practice, has won backing to do just that. Essex Legal Services predicted that it could make an additional surplus of £1.8m by 2020.
Tags: Alternative business structures, local authorities, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Legal Services Act
Rules forcing local authorities to set up ABSs “risk privatisation of public sector legal services”
Monday, 3 August 2015Local authority legal departments are being forced to set up alternative business structures by restrictive rules on in-house lawyers, leading to the “privatisation” of public sector legal services, the director of Essex Legal Services has claimed.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, in-house lawyers, local authorities, Local authority legal services
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Solicitors
Kent County Council narrows down potential ABS joint venture partners to one
Tuesday, 28 July 2015Kent County Council, which tendered for a joint venture partner to set up alternative business structure last autumn, has narrowed the list of potential candidates to one, it has emerged. The bidder will make a presentation to Kent’s commissioning advisory board in early September.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, local authorities
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Legal Services Act
New council ABS targets health sector as it looks to compete with private practice
Thursday, 2 April 2015A new local authority alternative business structure is targeting the health sector as one of its main growth areas. Its head said that with “no traditional partnership structure or expensive offices, our fees are very, very competitive compared with specialist private sector law firms”.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, local authorities, shared services
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Legal Services Act, Market monitor
Barristers’ clerks leader condemns “scandalous” local authority portal scheme
Friday, 22 August 2014A barrister portal scheme operated by the North West Legal Consortium, a group of over 30 local authorities, has been condemned as “scandalous” by the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks (IBC).
Tags: bar standards board, Institute of Barristers' Clerks, local authorities
Posted in Barristers, Latest news, Regulation
Second local authority ABS: we are not a threat to law firms
Wednesday, 13 August 2014HB Public Law, the shared legal service set up by Harrow and Barnet Councils, has been granted an alternative business structure licence by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, local authorities, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Legal Services Act, Market monitor
Local authority ABSs need “clear rationale”
Friday, 2 May 2014Local authorities must have a “really clear rationale” before setting up ABSs to generate extra income, a leading public services lawyer has warned. Potential problems included conflicts of interest, confidentiality and indemnity insurance.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, conflicts of interest, local authorities
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news
Local councils make ABS bid as bulwark against outsourcing, while Kent pauses its ABS plan
Thursday, 21 November 2013HB Public Law, the merged legal teams of the London boroughs of Barnet and Harrow, is to seek an alternative business structure as a defence against outsourcing. Meanwhile, Kent Legal Services, the first council legal team to express ABS ambitions, has its plans on hold.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, local authorities, Local authority legal services
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Market monitor
In-house lawyers to face tricky ABS decision
Friday, 18 May 2012The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to push ahead with changes to the SRA Handbook that will leave it to in-house lawyers to decide whether the law requires that their legal teams become alternative business structures.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, COFA, COLP, compliance officer for finance and administration, compliance officer for legal practice, local authorities, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Solicitors
Council plans joint venture ABS with law firm to target public sector clients
Thursday, 3 May 2012Kent Legal Services – the legal arm of Kent County Council – is planning to launch an alternative business structure in conjunction with regional law firm Geldards, it has emerged.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, local authorities
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Market monitor
Blog
Keeping the conversation going beyond Pride Month
As I reflect on all the celebrations of Pride Month 2024, I ask myself why there remains hesitancy amongst LGBTQ+ staff members about when it comes to being open about their identity in the workplace.
Third-party managed accounts: Your key questions answered
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has given strong indications that it is headed towards greater restrictions on law firms when it comes to handling client money.
Understanding vicarious trauma in the legal workplace
Vicarious trauma can happen to anyone who works with clients who have experienced trauma such as domestic or other violence, child abuse, sexual assault, torture or being a refugee.
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