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Keep up to date with news and developments within the profession, click here.
The Law Society has also recently developed a page on their website devoted to the Yorkshire region. It contains regional contact details as well as links to Law Society and JLD group events. Click here to view.
YLS members will receive a copy of the President of The Law Society's Weekly Update by e-mail. These updates provide a brief overview of current issues and events.
Legal Think Tank calls for Radical New Approach to 'Reserved' Legal Activities - August 2010 The Legal Services Institute (LSI) has today published the first part of its comprehensive review of reserved legal activities, which aims to inform the Legal Services Board's policy in this area. The research paper concludes that there are few apparent historical policy reasons for originally defining these activities as reserved and that therefore the reserved activity structure appears to be built on "tenuous foundations". This, it argues, means there is a lack of sound criteria on which the Legal Services Board (LSB) can base future recommendations for adding or removing activities from the list. The LSI is a policy think tank funded by The College of Law as part of its charitable foundation and is led by Professor Stephen Mayson. Click here to view the College of Law news release and here to view the research paper.
The Law Society Regional Manager's Update - July 2010 To download Fiona Tatton's full report, click here. A summary is provided below.
Outcomes focused regulation / New draft SRA Handbook published The SRA's plans for outcomes-focused regulation (OFR) will have a significant impact on the profession and we urge you to review the consultation: See also our summary of the proposals, by clicking here.
Watch the video of SRA Chief Executive, Antony Townsend providing an introduction to OFR: click here.
Excellence Awards 2010 Members are reminded that nominations for the 2010 Law Society Excellence Awards are now open. Go to www.lawsociety.org.uk/excellenceawards
Ken Clarke On Tuesday, 8th June, the Law Society Chief Executive, Des Hudson, and Law Society President, Bob Heslett, had their first face-to-face appointment with the new Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Ken Clarke QC MP, and the Minister for Legal Aid, Jonathan Djanogly MP. The Lord Chancellor clarified the position of the Ministry with regards to ABS, contradicting press reports that there was a tendency towards slowing the pace of their introduction. Concerns over access to justice and those we raised over legal aid seemed to resonate and they were both welcoming of the Society's offer of assistance in determining a new way forward.
Risk and compliance: new member service Managing risk and complying with new rules and governance requirements is an increasing challenge for all firms. We have launched a new membership service to provide the tools, support and expertise to help you develop a coordinated approach to risk management and compliance. For further information, click here.
Capital Gains Tax increase: trusts and wills affected The Law Society has warned that the increase in Capital Gains Tax (CGT) announced in the recent budget will be felt by trustees and personal representatives administering the estates of the deceased. To read The Law Society Press Release go to www.lawsocietymedia.org.uk and select press releases.
Three Legal Walks for Yorkshire The North East Legal Support Trust (NELST) is planning three Legal Walks in September in Leeds, Sheffield and Hull. For more details, contact Lindsay Ward at the College of Law in York on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Campaign to promote solicitor brand launched 14th June To help solicitors attract new business and retain existing clients, we are repeating last year's successful national advertising and PR campaign promoting the solicitor brand to the public. With the strapline "Your Solicitor - Qualified to Answer", the campaign focuses on the importance of seeking advice from a properly qualified professional. Visit www.lawsociety.org.uk/promote.
Immigration cap plans The Law Society believes the recently announced plans to cap immigration could have a detrimental impact on the competitiveness of the UK legal sector, by restricting firms' abilities to engage in international transactions. To view the Law Society Press Release, go to www.lawsocietymedia.org.uk and select press releases.
Legal ombudsman service to open in October The new legal ombudsman service, set up to investigate and resolve complaints made by users of legal services, has announced that it will open on 6th October this year.
Create client care policies with ease Save time and money by creating your own client care policies using the templates in the Lexcel Client Care Toolkit. All of the documents are provided on the book's free CD-ROM so you can customise them to your requirements. It includes client care policies, checklists, procedure documents, and client care letters. Visit www.lawsociety.org.uk/lexcel.
PII: guide to choosing a broker In the lead up to the professional indemnity insurance renewal (PII) deadline, the Law Society has published a guide to choosing insurance brokers. Download the guide by clicking here.
Government proposes court closures The government has announced proposals for closing a substantial number of courts around the country. The Law Society will be contributing to the consultations on these proposals and we will be seeking solicitors' views on the cuts shortly. Click here to view the consultation.
Law Society victory on defendants' costs The Law Society has defeated the previous government's plans to make acquitted defendants pay most of their own defence costs in criminal cases. We have issued a new practice note explaining the effects of the ruling and how you should deal with past orders made under the invalid regulations. Visit: www.lawsocietymedia.org.uk and select press releases.
Notice of AGM The Law Society's Annual General Meeting will take place at 14:30 on 15th July at 113 Chancery Lane.
Solicitors from Hell website: update The Law Society continues to monitor the activities of the Solicitors from Hell website. It is quite apparent to any reasonable reader that it is not a credible source of reliable information about solicitors. However, recent developments have secured the site media attention and so we believe further action is necessary.
Forthcoming JAC Selection Exercises Visit www.judicialappointments.gov.uk/selection-process/selection-exercises/forthcoming.htm for more details and to subscribe to electronic alerts.
Current Consultations
Outcomes-focused regulation - transforming the SRA's regulation of legal services Outcomes-focused regulation will concentrate on the quality of outcomes for clients, allowing firms to show compliance in ways best suited to consumers and their businesses. You are invited to join the debate. Consultation closes: 27th July 2010
Architecture of Change: the SRA's new Handbook The SRA signalled its move to outcomes-focused regulation (OFR) in its strategy paper "Achieving the right outcomes" in January, and in its April consultation paper "Solicitors Regulation Authority: Outcomes-Focused Regulation - Transforming the SRA's regulation of legal services". This paper represents the first major step in the practical implementation of OFR through the development of the SRA Handbook of regulations. At the same time it introduces the regulatory requirements for alternative business structures (ABS), which the SRA intends to license from October 2011. The new Handbook will be published in April 2011 and implemented on 6th October 2011. Consultation closes: 20th August 2010
To view these consultations, go to www.sra.org.uk/consultations.
The Law Society Regional Manager's Update - June 2010 To download Fiona Tatton's full report, click here. A summary is provided below.
Forthcoming training events:
Strategies for combining legal and financial advice: client referrals, joint ventures and ABS 29th June 2010, 2.00pm-5.00pm Location: Novotel, 4 Whitehall, Whitehall Quay, Leeds Price: £125.00 plus VAT The Legal Services Act presents solicitors with the opportunity to regain their historic role as a primary resource in managing their clients' affiars. To do so, they must meet two challenges: to extend their services into practice areas which enable them to maintain long-term relationships with their clients' and to embrace management structures and processes which ensure that they work efficiently as unified business units. These seminars are deisgned to address these issues within the framework of the Legal Services Act and to provide you with crucial information about financial services to help you develop practical action plans that will help your firm achieve competitive success. For more information, visit www.lawsociety.org.uk/events and enter 'Yorkshire' in the search function.
MLRO Networking Group 30th June 2010, 4.30pm-6.30pm Location: Sheffield Law Society, 8 Campo Lane, Sheffield This is a free event. The Law Society is running a series of free Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) regional networking groups, in association with 192business and Accuity. The events are free and qualify for 2 hours CPD. Numbers are limited to two people per firm. For more information, visit www.lawsociety.org.uk/events and enter 'Yorkshire' in the search function.
Securing your competitive future - how to select the best option for you and your firm 30th June 2010, 4.30pm-6.30pm Location: Sheffield Law Society, 8 Campo Lane, Sheffield Law Management Section members: £125 plus VAT Non members: £150 plus VAT Sole Practitioner Group members: £105 plus VAT Law firms still battling with the effects of the economic downturn must now also set in place strategies to ensure survival and prosperity in the highly competitive ABS led landscape that is around the corner. Many sole practitioners and small to medium sized firms are concerned about the impact of new business models and increasing demands of consumers for quality and cost-effective legal services. How will you respond? This series of seminars is designed to identify the alternatives that are available. You will receive practical guidane from experienced consultants on developing suitable strategies which will increase the profitability of your firm in the new competitive environment. For more information, visit www.lawsociety.org.uk/events and enter 'Yorkshire' in the search function.
Law Society News and Events Please see below for a brief summary on recent Law Society news. This is not an exhaustive list and further information can be found at http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/newsandevents/news.law.
Outcomes focused regulation / New draft SRA Handbook published The SRA's plans for outcomes-focused regulation (OFR) will have significant impact on the profession and we urge you to review the consultation: See also our summary of the proposals: http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/new/documents/2010/ofr_Issummary_may2010.pdf.
Risk and compliance: New member service Managing risk and complying with new rules and governance requirements is an increasing challenge for all firms. We have launched a new membership service to provide the tools, support and expertise to help you develop a coordinated approach to risk management and compliance. Go to: http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/productsandservices/specialinterest/riskandcompliance.page
2010 Excellence Awards open for entries The Law Society Excellence Awards reward and promote excellence across the legal profession and celebrate achievement in areas that are central to the profession today. Nominations are open until 20th August. Go to: www.lawsociety.org.uk/excellenceawards
New CPD Centre launched The Law Society's new CPD Centre is a free online system that enables you to search hundreds of courses from leading retaining providers; plan, track and record your CPD online and find Law Society online courses that you can take wherever and whenever you want. Find out more: www.lawsociety.org.uk/cpdcentre
Three Legal Walks for Yorkshire The North East Legal Support Trust (NELST) which is a registered charity established to give financial and other support to charities and advice agencies providing free legal advice in the North East. NELST is planning three Legal Walks in September in Leeds, Sheffield and Hull. For more details, please contact Lindsay Ward at the College of Law in York - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Outdated legislation: let us know your views The proposed Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill intends to repeal unnecessary or burdensome legislation. The Law Society will be lobbying the government and to help us represent your views, let us know what legislation you believe should be repealed and why.
Preparing for Professional Indemnity - Insurance Renewal in 2010 17th June 2010 Location: Leeds, Park Plaza, Boar Lane, City Square LS1 5NS Price: Free event The Law Society is running a series of free professional indemnity insurance (PII) seminars for solicitors throughout England and Wales.
Current Consultations
Outcomes-focused regulation - transforming the SRA's regulation of legal services Join the debate Consultation closes: 27th July 2010 www.sra.org.uk/freedominpractice
Architecture of change: the SRA's new Handbook Consultation closes: 20th August 2010 www.sra.org.uk/freedominpractice
A second consultation on the Code of Conduct will follow in October.
To view various Law Society Practice Notes, go to www.lawsociety.org.uk, then click on Practice Notes on the right hand side of the home page.
To subscribe to Law Society update bulletins, visit http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/newsandevents/newsletters.law.
Rise of BRIC Countries to Provide Great Opportunities for UK Lawyers, Predicts Magic Circle Head - 24th May 2010 The economic rise of the BRIC countries will present huge opportunities for UK and US qualified lawyers, predicts Magic Circle law firm boss, Ted Burke, in a podcast produced by The College of Law. In the interview, published today on the College's website, the Chief Executive of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer says that globalisation will increase transactional activity and that English and US law would remain the law of choice for most of these transactions. This, he predicts, would give UK qualified lawyers the opportunity to work all over the world as well as in the UK. Burke also believes that this globalisation creates a clear advantage in being dual-qualified in both UK and US law. The podcast is part of a new series examining what the legal services market will look like in five years time and featuring leaders from across the legal profession. Click here to view the College of Law News Release.
Top Law Professionals Give 'Inside Track' on Future of Legal Services Market - May 2010 Leaders from across the legal profession will give their take on the future of the rapidly changing legal services arena in a new series of The College of Law's 'Inside Track' podcasts. The series, which launched on the College's website today (Monday May 17), will gather a range of perspectives from principal figures representing different areas of the legal sector in answer to the question: "What will the legal services market look like in five years' time?" The first programme in the series of five, to be published weekly, features Nicholas Green QC, Chairman of the Bar. The other guests in the series are Ted Burke, Chief Executive of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Chris Kenny, Chief Executive of the Legal Services Board, Neil Kinsella, Chief Executive and Managing Partner of national law firm Russell Jones & Walker and Alison Hook, Head of International for The Law Society. To view the College of Law News Release, click here. To listen to the interview with Nicholas Green, click here.
The New Route to Qualification for Paralegals - October 2009 As ever more complex work is delegated to paralegals, and they are employed in ever greater numbers, problems loom for employers:
(a) Will clients continue to accept unqualified paralegals handling ever more complex matters? (b) How to create different charging bands for paralegals and how to justify them to clients? (c) Good people are needed for the new client-facing, case-handling, largely autonomous paralegal role. But good people have options and won't stay without recognition and a career path. But many firms do not have the time to devise career paths, personal development plans, training frameworks, competency standards, etc; (d) Often proper supervision of paralegals is honoured in the breach (not surprisingly: proper supervision would turn many solicitors into the world's most expensive full-time line managers). To date regulators have not pursued the issue. This is going to change as paralegals move from being 44% of fee-earners to outnumbering solicitors; (e) Many PI insurers lump paralegals in with "other employees". As paralegals achieve a higher profile, PI insurers will have to assess paralegal risk. Given paralegals are under-trained, under-supervised and unrecognised, this could prove expensive.
The Institute of Paralegals has addressed all these issues with the introduction of the first ever national (and nationally recognised) career path for paralegals. Called the Route to Qualification ("RTQ"), it has been launched with the support of more than sixty firms, local law societies (including Yorkshire Law Society), university law schools, representative bodies, legal recruiters and others.
The RTQ is voluntary, employer-friendly and affordable. The only obligatory annual cost per paralegal for the first three stages is (before any employer discount) £25 (Affiliate), £50 (Associate) and £90 (Certified Paralegal). The fourth and final stage, Qualified Paralegal, costs £100 per year but requires completion of a mandatory examined course leading to proven competency. For more information visit www.instituteofparalegals.org/membership_of_paralegal.jsp
The RTQ maps against the National Competency Standards for Paralegals which can be downloaded and used free of charge from www.LegalStandards.org (along with standards for legal secretaries and legal assistants).
For more information on the RTQ, competency standards or paralegal development generally, please e-mail James O'Connell at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call him on 020 7887 1420. |