The Legal Services Board (LSB) has raised concern over whether current regulatory restrictions for in-house lawyers are justified, stating that ‘unnecessary restrictions’ on their ability to innovate and expand their reach could ‘adversely affect access to justice’.
Deregulating education: BSB proposes to put barristers in charge of pupillage
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today (20 February) announced in a new report that chambers and employers are best placed to decide how to plan and provide pupillages and should be put in back in charge of designing the experience for aspiring barristers.
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News in brief – December 2014
KING & WOOD MALLESONS HIRES HEAVYWEIGHT EVERSHEDS TRIO
KWM last month hired former Eversheds senior partner Cornelius Medvei alongside former international head of real estate William Naunton and former London head of tax Clive Jones. The trio will lead expansion plans for the firm’s structured real estate team.
Broadening ‘the public’s choice’: Bar Standards Board to regulate businesses from 2015
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has received approval from the Legal Services Board (LSB) for its application to regulate businesses that are authorised to carry out and provide reserved legal activities.
Hong Kong Law Society president forced to go amid row over independence from China
Ambrose Lam, president of the Hong Kong Law Society since May last year, was forced to resign on 19 August after a vote of no confidence was issued in response to his recent support of a Beijing white paper that raised issues over Hong Kong’s judicial independence. Hong Kong lawyers turned out in force on 14 August to an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), where 2,392 lawyers cast a vote of no confidence in the president. Just 1,478 lawyers voted against the motion, despite law firms reporting pressure from clients on the mainland not to pass the motion.
Law Society foresees return to pre-recession growth for industry by 2015
The Law Society has forecasted the UK legal industry will return to pre-Lehman levels of growth by next year, according to a report published by the regulator yesterday (28 August).
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Asia: Fears over Hong Kong’s judicial autonomy see vote of no confidence passed in local law society head
Hong Kong lawyers turned out in force last night (14 August) to cast a vote of no confidence in local law society president Ambrose Lam, following his recent support of a Beijing white paper perceived to raise issues over Hong Kong’s judicial independence. Continue reading “Asia: Fears over Hong Kong’s judicial autonomy see vote of no confidence passed in local law society head”
‘The overall benefits are potentially enormous’: Bucks County Council granted ABS licence with emergency services group
In a move that has been welcomed by the Legal Services Board, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has granted an alternative business structure (ABS) licence to local authorities for the first time, as Buckinghamshire County Council enters into a joint venture with Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority.
The Bar: BSB picks Sir Andrew Burns as new lay chair
The Bar Standards Board has selected Sir Andrew Burns as its next chair with Baroness Ruth Deech QC due to reach her term limit at the end of 2014. Continue reading “The Bar: BSB picks Sir Andrew Burns as new lay chair”
Guest post: A few thoughts on the Butler Sloss controversy
Lady Butler Sloss, a former and eminent senior judge, with significant experience through a child abuse inquiry (Cleveland) of matters of child protection has been appointed to lead an independent inquiry into historical child abuse. Interestingly, she relinquished the Diana inquest when forced to have a jury trial. The Telegraph story at the time reported:
‘These inquests now require a jury, and I do not have the degree of experience of jury cases that I feel is necessary and appropriate for presiding over inquests of this level of public interest.’
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