The Law Business: 10th to 16th December

Welcome to the weekly 'Law Business' column from the SundayLawReview team taking a cursory look at what happened in the business of law within UK as reported by online legal publications throughout last week.


The most interesting articles on developments, compliance, business and the study of law including articles cited within TheLawMap 'focus of the day': 

  • The idea of law students filling the legal aid gap makes my heart sink. Matching people who cannot afford legal help with unqualified amateurs? Full story - Guardian law
  • The Legal Services Board has announced that it plans to investigate the cost of all legal regulators, including itself and the Law Society. Full story - Solicitor's Journal
  • Small claims limit raised to £5,000 in Grayling whiplash plan. Justice secretary Chris Grayling has unveiled his long-expected blueprint for bringing down the number of whiplash claims. Fully story - Law Gazette
  • Firms under pressure from the FSA to report suspicious transactions need to consider the issue of loss liability. Full story - The Lawyer
  • Are whole-life prison sentences an infringement of human rights? As three British lifers launch an appeal at the European court, we weigh the evidence. Full story - Guardian Law
  • Solicitors favour LinkedIn over Facebook and Twitter as social media use slowly grows | Legal Futures http://t.co/imI43Iif 
  • Survey: firms need better hold of "levers of profitability" to make most of clients and staff | Legal Futures http://t.co/7kSioP7K 
  • Conveyancers reject Law Society call for referral fee ban | Legal Futures http://t.co/V4tvyxVP
  • As long-serving boss calls it a day at soaraway Clydes, does stability equal success? | The Lawyer http://t.co/o7vmCx9I 
  • New regulations, technology, competitors & customer expectations are forcing law firms to adapt to change | The Lawyer http://t.co/doZb1mv7 
  • Strasbourg Christmas surprises | LAW GAZETTE http://t.co/j9LDHeVp
  • Ombudsman warns of dangers of ABS-inspired conveyancing factories putting volume over service | Legal Futures http://t.co/Kiym7qNP
  • Whiplash proposals target fraudulent claims with increase in PI small claims limit to £5,000 | Legal Futures http://t.co/2BWTnAx6
  • ABSs are good for large PI firms - but not small practices or injured people | Legal Futures http://t.co/UMR8WVAU 
  • Leading law firm ties up with BPO provider to offer end-to-end defendant service to insurers | Legal Futures http://t.co/JLWj4p4i 
  • New Bar chief keeps up anti-LSB rhetoric | Legal Futures http://t.co/8u6qjdSW
  • More profitable private client departments have fewer secretaries, research finds | Legal Futures http://t.co/0QQtdydX
  • Alternative dispute hearings tumble in England | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/I0QAEQGf 
  • Legal profession regulators ignore client needs | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/5bEYFbsE
  • LSB lays down challenge to regulators – prove you can do the job or face action | Legal Futures http://t.co/rlD6CgW4 
  • Listed insurance company set for law firm acquisition after gaining ABS licence | Legal Futures http://t.co/hu3o4lqr
  • SRA confirms enforcement action in 2013 against non-compliant firms | The Lawyer http://t.co/WtdETNSu 
  • Pre-Christmas rush | Law Gazette http://t.co/atiyMO9H 
  • Labour takes aim at whiplash reform plan | Law Gazette http://t.co/iXxaVis5 
  • Law firm websites ‘trail other sectors’ | Law Gazette http://t.co/XrTUdZIR 
  • Family judges backing court welfare reports | Law Gazette http://t.co/mZHmeAYG 
  • Colombian lawyers still under threat | Law Gazette http://t.co/kETeW9hG 
  • Land Registry shock at digital difficulty | Law Gazette http://t.co/F1qXSNyV 
  • MoJ must slash £2.5bn from its budget | Law Gazette http://t.co/6G8J6ZEE
  • Real employee rights or fantasy? | Law Gazette http://t.co/qFFwXFbC 
  • Radical PI reforms spell ‘disaster’ | Law Gazette http://t.co/pX45i3EO
  • Cool reaction to European patent unification | Law Gazette http://t.co/qAQXMc8y 
  • Grayling sets out plan for culling judicial reviews | Law Gazette http://t.co/vbiZciN8
  • City lawyers speak out against plans to limit government consultations | Legal Futures http://t.co/DB0Bw3Qv 
  • Home-buyers have little interest in conveyancing from brand names says survey, as firms launch pledges | Legal Futures http://t.co/Z1CkGtAN
  • Smallest firms ‘hardest hit’ by fee rises | Law Gazette http://t.co/B20TReD5
  • COLPs and COFAs are ‘officially sanctioned snitches’, Fox says | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/UGAEiPjv
  • The Court of Protection: how journalists and lawyers can open the closed doors of justice http://t.co/NgY8DZNh
  • Leveson Statutory Regulation or Press Freedom - A Bogus Choice http://t.co/f67ShJ99
  • Better Late Than Never: Lawyers – Gangnam Style http://t.co/g4saeHAH 
  • Why Wannabe Lawyers Should Learn To ‘Pivot’ http://t.co/VvJRmZqA
  • After Spending $150K On Law School, Recent Grads May Become Bloggers http://t.co/1J3gx4xx

Articles of the week:

The UK and international articles of the week are two pieces selected by @TheLawMap tweeting team based on recommendations from friends and followers of LawNewsIndex.com daily law news blog. 
  • Are your professional ethics influenced by your values? | Professor Richard Moorhead - Lawyer Watch 
  • Focus on talent not diversity to increase female partner numbers, says 30% Club | Sam Chadderton - The Lawyer 

News from the Law Firms: 

Friday 14th December
Thursday 13th December
Wednesday 12th December
Tuesday 11th December
Monday 10th December

We would like to thank all the publications cited in this week's column. Please notify via @SundayLawReview Twitter handle of any errors or omissions.
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