The Law Business: 19th to 25th November

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 and the business of law including articles cited within TheLawMap 'focus of the day': 
  • Diverse judiciary more than 50 years away, says supreme court justice. Lord Sumption calls for debate on positive discrimination in favour of women and ethnic minority candidates to achieve a more representative bench. Full story - Guardian Law
  • Lawyers responded critically to the prime minister’s call today for measures to cut the number of applications for judicial review. Full story - Law Gazette
  • Legal aid cuts and an increase in the number of litigants in person could lead to the creation of a “black hole” for civil law reform, Mr Justice Foskett has suggested. Full story - Solicitors Journal
  • Maternity leave change will revolutionise the workplace. When Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced changes to our system of maternity leave and flexible working, he ushered in a new working environment. Full story - The Lawyer
  • Law firms are waking up to the fact that technology can manage social media without loss of control. Full story - Global Legal Post
  • Are legal curbs the answer for Britain's errant newspapers? http://t.co/POAKsjhn 
  • Get advice and service right, and price becomes less important | Legal Futures: http://t.co/wHRgeFDf
  • An economic message for our regulators | Law Gazette http://t.co/N2b0HWtQ 
  • Cameron announces curbs on judicial reviews | Law Gazette http://t.co/Xu6qafZA
  • RTA costs to be cut by £700 | Law Gazette http://t.co/qf7lM2oP 
  • UK firms keen to outsource core services | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/ImjRVqqF 
  • Unsustainable pricing means most conveyancing firms are "bust", says leading entrepreneur | Legal Futures: http://t.co/Eohe5z3J 
  • First successes in red tape challenge with SRA set to sweep away City irritants | Legal Futures: http://t.co/TjBBd0Pz 
  • Legal aid cuts could lead to law reform ‘black hole’ | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/r6Hon4Wc 
  • 'I can't intervene in SAS sniper case,' attorney general tells defence secretary http://t.co/3xPedV7B 
  • Disparage the competition - some firms are doing this to new market entrants | Law Gazette http://t.co/McylJgTM
  • Exclusivity at the bar | Law Gazette http://t.co/CgSqopGz 
  • The Co-op’s a game-changer | Law Gazette http://t.co/LWzlWVmu 
  • Legal Aid Agency names new faces | Law Gazette http://t.co/0Ul9NcYO 
  • New portal fees threaten access to justice, says Society | Law Gazette http://t.co/po0fY2fK
  • Edinburgh lawyers strike against legal aid proposals | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/QunctRdT 
  • Justice Secretary: Lack of focus on education and improving skills in young offenders' institutions is a 'travesty' http://t.co/hx30pCMP 
  • Lawyers face £1.4m bill after government confirms end to 'free' ombudsman cases | Legal Futures: http://t.co/8D2LHYoh
  • LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer go head to head again - in the courts | Legal Futures: http://t.co/7HFNDGaj 
  • ABS-in-waiting to double in size as non-lawyer backing prompts massive recruitment drive | Legal Futures: http://t.co/sgcrRZG0
  • Equal pay and ‘an unacceptable degree of violence’ | Law Gazette http://t.co/IE5bKtbo 
  • High Court judge to visit law firms | Law Gazette http://t.co/BYOuixmW
  • Secret courts suffer humiliating defeat in House of Lords http://t.co/mLIb99La 
  • College of Law rebranded University of Law | The Lawyer http://t.co/qBwH1zUS   
  • LSB to consult on regulation of sole practitioners | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/E4Bjeieo 
  • Legal wigs to sort out rules on internet defamation, contempt http://t.co/hm7jxB3X
  • Government will not set limit on payments permitted under referral fee ban exception | Legal Futures: http://t.co/UsUMq1AL
  • Lord chancellor takes a constitutional in the Lords | Law Gazette http://t.co/e1ADRjeS
  • Structured finance could be heading for the scrapheap at elite firms | The Lawyer http://t.co/cVk5Lgrm
  • Regulatory pressures push in-housers closer to management, says KPMG | The Lawyer http://t.co/GKZIbdeL
  • UK firms are "shying away" from BD, says NatWest | The Lawyer http://t.co/0GctmhNr

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. 

News from the Law Firms: 

Friday 23rd November
Thursday 22nd November
Wednesday 21th November
Tuesday 20th November
Monday 19th November

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.

The Law Business: 12th to 18th November

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 and the business of law including articles cited within TheLawMap 'focus of the day': 

  • Simply being a solicitor “is not enough” in the new legal market, but by raising standards further through accreditation schemes and using their brand recognition, solicitors can preserve a dominant market share, the Law Society’s chief executive has insisted. Full story - Legal Futures
  • Expert witnesses are divided on whether the Jackson reforms will cut their fees or lead to injustices, a survey has found. A large minority, 39 per cent, said they believed implementation of the reforms in April 2013 would lead to injustices. Full story - Solicitors Journal
  • The City of London Law Society has criticised what it calls ‘misconceived’ assumptions underpinning the landmark review of legal education and training. Full story - Law Gazette
  • Bar Council chairman Michael Todd QC has called for the Legal Services Board (LSB) to be "disbanded", citing support from Attorney General Dominic Grieve and new Justice Secretary Chris Grayling. Full story - Legalweek
  • UK's relationship with the Council of Europe soon to reach a turning point. Full story - Guardian Law
  • ABS joint ventures to get around referral fee ban will be fine, SRA says | Legal Futures http://t.co/D6FdxMIo 
  • Bar Council to press “sympathetic” Grayling to scrap LSB | Legal Futures http://t.co/HbDyL1lS 
  • American firms build up English law capabilities in the City | The Lawyer http://t.co/j2RxgPRG 
  • Offshore M&A drops but value remains high | The Lawyer http://t.co/jhK6mrDL 
  • Lawyers outstrip accountants in pay battle | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/8Mj4BJxM 
  • Recorder did not show ‘bias and partiality’ against law firm | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/Aul3w8ZT
  • Court ‘assumed for itself’ power to allocate social housing | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/wsEVoTlq
  • Lawyer salary hikes fall below national average, says survey | The Lawyer http://t.co/o4Iju0gK 
  • Citizens Advice trains guns on CMCs – and their regulator for not prosecuting any | Legal Futures http://t.co/s3CBx7Me
  • InjuryLawyers4u confident over referral fee ban as it opens up panel for first time in eight years | Legal Futures http://t.co/vBlP8IQa 
  • SRA chairman says too many solicitors are “simply not good enough” | Legal Futures http://t.co/Br5JKzSy
  • Judges could make ‘ill-informed’ decisions on costs, says Gloster | Law Gazette http://t.co/UEvfksmq 
  • Claims management regulation ‘won't be transferred’ | Law Gazette http://t.co/cCg5qjGm 
  • Hooper: call police over ‘corrupt’ referral fees | Law Gazette http://t.co/na5Eps5r 
  • Lawyers in Local Government likely to be the name of a new body combining Solicitors in Local Government | Law Gazette http://t.co/5j4Z2uSQ 
  • Jackson reforms to heighten potential conflict of interest where barristers are deal directly with public | Law Gazette http://t.co/yTmRWIDR
  • Society mental health scheme to become mandatory | Law Gazette http://t.co/9eYMXZNO 
  • Video in courts ‘not being used’ | Law Gazette http://t.co/YqOly8sC 
  • Scots protest over legal aid cuts | Law Gazette http://t.co/ky4OXBBc 
  • Litigants in person ‘need more support’ | Law Gazette http://t.co/IJEbbjQu 
  • Grayling renews human rights assault after Qatada release | Law Gazette http://t.co/xuZPN7wn 
  • Bar builds student appeal despite drop in pupillages | Law Gazette http://t.co/f1aehqpo
  • Bar chief rebuffed over LSB closure | Law Gazette http://t.co/eEye5ALw 
  • MySRA log jam cleared in ‘record time’ | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/xlgmsu2I 
  • English regulator: many solicitors 'simply not good enough' | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/S9VOT90p 
  • Diverse judiciary more than 50 years away, says supreme court justice http://t.co/POyhb2kn 
  • Law school wins record scholarship fund donation | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/MPRIICu4
  • Black Solicitors Network names UK's most diverse law firms | Legalweek http://t.co/Nn2PTuGU 
  • New Bar stats reveal 20% drop in number called during 2010-11 | Legalweek http://t.co/KVSLQtF2
  • Law not like ‘any old commodity’, Lord Neuberger tells LETR | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/KEyTKWGB  
  • Local authority bodies moot merger as Law Society reviews grant | The Lawyer http://t.co/KCtdu5xD 

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. 
  • Judicial dialogue? Straw and Bratza deliver choice words on Strasbourg | Joshua Rozenberg http://t.co/TzKaGkkj

News from the Law Firms: 

Friday 16th November
Thursday 15th November
Wednesday 14th November
Tuesday 13th November
Monday 12th November

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.

The Law Business: 5th to 11th November

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 and the business of law including articles cited within TheLawMap 'focus of the day': 

  • The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) will not allow third parties to bring complaints against lawyers for the time being | Legal Futures
  • The European Court of Human Rights has demanded reform of UK employment laws to protect workers against discrimination on the grounds of political beliefs | Solicitors Journal
  • Pro bono: do we need to rethink the formula post legal aid? A survey shows that most law firms have not planned to change their pro bono activity to respond to the cuts in legal aid |  Guardian Law
  • Third-party funders must accept statutory regulation to protect the integrity of the justice system | The Lawyer
  • Civil liberties stance over secret courts plan too simplistic, says Ken Clarke. Minister in charge of justice and security bill says opposition based on 'legal purism' could wreck chance for sensible reform | Guardian Law
  • LPO provider NewGalexy opens Scotland base with government grant | The Lawyer http://t.co/yFwb7ckr 
  • Law Society attacks notion that education and training regime is broken | Legal Futures http://t.co/qoOdbjJF 
  • Law centre submits ABS application as not-for-profit sector gears up for legal aid cuts | Legal Futures http://t.co/pyJo6KRV
  • The past quarter has been busy for the offshore sector as firms have looked to capitalise on globalisation | The Lawyer http://t.co/fCjigsQ4 
  • Monte Carlo was the location for The Lawyer’s annual European Awards & Conference. Here are the highlights | The Lawyer http://t.co/WfbRfhAa 
  • CoA sells claimant spouses short by insisting company law principles apply to family cases | The Lawyer http://t.co/crecX7vh 
  • Third-party funders must accept statutory regulation to protect the integrity of the justice system | The Lawyer http://t.co/CpGjdR6T 
  • New anti-bribery laws are about to force both public and private companies to clean up their acts | The Lawyer http://t.co/bnYLL0zY 
  • The real estate top 10 | The Lawyer http://t.co/TBvVOXK1 
  • Plea for unification of international legal bodies | Law Gazette http://t.co/WppflX3D
  • Laterals fad sweeps bar as chambers add numbers to fend off consolidation | The Lawyer http://t.co/uITk6ReF 
  • Government considers laws to stop discrimination against soldiers | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/TNLrksiJ 
  • Personal injury challenges | Law Gazette http://t.co/hpO66bt8
  • UK top 20 devotes £180m of billing time to pro-bono work | The Lawyer http://t.co/oZ210DOT 
  • Lengthy recruitment process turns off legal professionals | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/COxLseOn 
  • Committals abolished in 29 more areas | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/z2v48LBt 
  • Most conveyancing firms would consider becoming ABSs | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/cKQurUTk 
  • Courts can make their own calculations of absent fathers’ earnings | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/Jb1HBNoY 
  • Strasbourg demands protection against discrimination for political views | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/hLrnUdvC 
  • Law firms' proudest pro bono moments of 2012 http://t.co/T85Xhy55
  • New indemnity insurers capture market share as solicitors pay less for their cover this year | Legal Futures http://t.co/RPmaz4V0 
  • From school-leavers to lawyers – CILEx and College of Law strike ‘one-stop shop’ training deal | Legal Futures http://t.co/PGNSAjD2
  • CICs not ABSs the way forward for law centres, Hynes says | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/2roqXSof
  • 40 per cent of whiplash victims ‘do not claim compensation’ | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/QHBlh7bg
  • Law firms ditching BlackBerries | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/ioEcuMZ1  

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. 

News from the Law Firms: 

Friday 9th November
Thursday 8th November
Wednesday 7th November
Tuesday 6th November
Monday 5th November

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.

The Law Business: 29th October to 4th November

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 and the business of law including articles cited within TheLawMap 'focus of the day': 

  • The SRA has suffered a temporary setback in its attempt to secure higher fining powers against traditional law firms after the MoJ refused to raise them in line with those applicable to ABSs. Full story | Solicitors Journal 
  • The contribution of lawyers. Don't emphasise your legal skills when on a board but your depth of experience dealing with companies. Full story | The Global Lawyer 
  • The Law Society has rebutted bar claims that solicitors are putting pressure on barristers to enter referral fee arrangements that damage the interests of clients. Full story | Law Gazette 
  • The gender pay gap is now 15 per cent. Is the Supreme Court’s decision that out-of-time equal pay claims can proceed as breach of contract claims in the High Court a step too far for employers? Full story | The Lawyer 
  • The importance of law firms marketing to their existing client base has come through strongly from major new Law Society research that shows repeat clients are by far solicitors’ biggest source of work. Full story | Legal Futures
  • High Court rejects appeal of solicitor struck off in his absence | Legal Futures http://t.co/d9UKACk6
  • Independence may benefit Scottish law firms, but they are not holding their breath | The Lawyer http://t.co/EibHHfHz 
  • World Cup & Olympics, springboard for sports-related legal projects, but the potential doesn’t end there | The Lawyer http://t.co/GQIPQatz 
  • London remains key location for Continental firms keen to build referral relationships than ever before | The Lawyer http://t.co/q4AH05hG 
  • Scrutiny & enforcement is streamlined, antitrust regulation is at the top of many companies’ agendas | The Lawyer http://t.co/H3AfP9yN 
  • Losing track of who’s merged with whom in the UK legal market? | The Lawyer http://t.co/H2O3j6gx 
  • Tackling equal pay issues before they reach the courts just became an even | The Lawyer http://t.co/hJdMx1lD
  • A group of top law firms have been drafted in for the publishing world's mega merger | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/DWazsbtw 
  • Women are enjoying less opportunities in law firms than their male counterparts | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/bQ8eFhDm 
  • Overseas work boosts UK top ten law firms | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/NKyfTpUW 
  • Majority of top firms eyeing growth through merger as ABSs appear on the radar | Legal Futures http://t.co/Y0w1NabW 
  • Solicitors putting barristers under increasing pressure to pay referral fees, Bar Council warns | Legal Futures http://t.co/5996VdTa
  • The Practice of Law - Law schools are turning out lawyers who are not capable of being counselors http://t.co/ZE1LB8nC 
  • Top 10 U.K. Law Firms Increase Market Share With Overseas Work http://t.co/WG6rM5s0
  • Bar broadside on referral fees ‘confused and self-serving’| Law Gazette http://t.co/XbZev9Sw 
  • Grayling promises clampdown on unrecovered legal aid | Law Gazette http://t.co/K0F8N40L 
  • ALS founder blames ‘intimidation’ for court interpreter debacle | Law Gazette http://t.co/8I6DspnP
  • Government rejects new calls to do away with chancel repair liability | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/KJUG9cqV 
  • Conveyancers split over CLC’s regulatory plans | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/ninhER8B
  • Legal financing fund at centre of allegations suspended http://t.co/pw9O4u9I
  • Divorce ruling branded ‘cheat’s charter’ | Law Gazette http://t.co/9nkpu5ZM 
  • Goldsmith warning on confidentiality | Law Gazette http://t.co/wxcONn6g 
  • US plea to curb third-party funding | Law Gazette http://t.co/hNiluWok 
  • Commercial property - how long is a reasonable time to consent to an assignment? | Law Gazette http://t.co/vLB2Huaw 
  • SRA ‘confident’ over PC renewals | Law Gazette http://t.co/voravOxu 
  • Government rejects judicial demands for costs council | The Lawyer http://t.co/LY3Wa5GG
  • Scottish entry into the EU need not be a complicated legal affair http://t.co/bZSoQqeK
  • City watchdog reports huge increase in whistleblowing | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/r6nicNNb
  • Criminalising Subletting: A Step Too Far ... Or not Far Enough? | The Barrister Magazine http://t.co/aalMaG2O 
  • DNA after Lawrence | The Barrister Magazine http://t.co/nsCQKbPY 
  • Innovative marketing – do the current BSB rules discriminate against chambers? | The Barrister Magazine http://t.co/LSYG5wEA 
  • Strategy Formulation in a Changing Market | The Barrister Magazine http://t.co/Aep2crJy
  • Regulator launches leniency policy consultation | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/WoRuhis8 
  • SRA setback over higher fining powers | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/cQP1nkE8
  • Costs lawyers have expressed disappointment at the government’s decision not to create a costs council | Law Gazette http://t.co/8VEQ9EYv 
  • Disappointment at costs council decision | Law Gazette http://t.co/8VEQ9EYv
  • UK Gets Open Definitions Right: Government procurements now prefer open standards,no patent restrictions in standards http://t.co/lF8S6veg 
  • Law firms’ tax affairs in the spotlight | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/1aChXkGy
  • Richards LJ to take over as deputy civil justice head | The Lawyer http://t.co/02RrD9cN 
  • The EU Is Now Actively Discouraging Lawyers From Talking In Court http://t.co/BTg3Tv3m 
  • Licensed conveyancers attack regulator’s move into litigation and advocacy | Legal Futures http://t.co/S953Q7qO
  • Secret courts plan may be incompatible with Human Rights Act says watchdog http://t.co/kdn1QBbW 
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. 

News from the Law Firms: 

Friday 2nd November
Thursday 1st November
Wednesday 31st October
Tuesday 30th October
Monday 29th October

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.