MSPs back independence of legal professi...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 30th, 2010 | Comments Off
30 June 2010 Justice Committee MSPs backed government commitment to secure solicitors? independence by dropping proposals to allow ministers to set the criteria for non-lawyer membership of the Law Society of Scotland?s Council. MSPs agreed during a debate on the Legal Services (Scotland) Bill that...
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SRA agrees new fees...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 28th, 2010 | Comments Off
28 June 2010 The SRA Board has reviewed and agreed in principle the policy and draft fee determinations for the new approach to practising fees, which come into force for this year’s renewal cycle. The new fees – which are subject to final decisions by the SRA Board and the Law Society Council...
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Longer detention for Scots suspects...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 28th, 2010 | Comments Off
28 June 2010 The law in Scotland could soon be changed allowing suspects to be detained for up to 24 hours for police questioning without being charged. The change, which would bring the law in line with that in England and Wales, would replace the current 6 hours, and is designed to reflect the practicalities...
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Legal Ombudsman announces start date...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 28th, 2010 | Comments Off
28 June 2010 The Legal Ombudsman service has announced that it will begin work on 6 October 2010. The new service – which is the public face of the Office for Legal Complaints – will replace bodies such as the Legal Complaints Service (which has dealt with complaints since the splitting up...
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Government proposes fundamental look at ...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 23rd, 2010 | Comments Off
23 June 2010 The government today announced a fundamental look at the legal aid system, designed to create a stable and sustainable system providing access to justice for those who need it most. This reflects the aim of creating a more efficient legal aid system as set out in the Government document...
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Ministers propose court closures...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 23rd, 2010 | Comments Off
23 June 2010 Consultations published today by the Ministry of Justice contain proposals for the closure of 103 magistrates’ courts and 54 county courts which, it says, are underused and inadequate. The plans, which are part of proposals to modernise and improve the use of courts in England and...
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Scots welcome will writer regulation...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 23rd, 2010 | Comments Off
22 June 2010 The Law Society of Scotland has welcomed the Justice Committee?s decision to protect Scottish consumers and regulate non-lawyer will writers in Scotland under the Legal Services (Scotland) Bill. The amendments to the Bill will boost consumer protections by giving those who seek advice from...
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Law Society publish new model planning a...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 18th, 2010 | Comments Off
18 June 2010 The Law Society have published the second edition of the model planning agreement (Section 106) which can be downloaded from the Law Society web site. The model has been revised to take account of legal and economic developments since the first edition and incorporates feedback on the first...
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LSB polishes crystal ball...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 17th, 2010 | Comments Off
17 June 2010 The Legal Services Board (LSB) has decided to look into the future and has launched the results of a research project examining the views of leading commentators on the future shape of the legal services sector. The publication, entitled The Future for Legal Services, was launched at a research...
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Final Week for Land Registry Direct...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 17th, 2010 | Comments Off
17 June 2010 Land Registry Direct, the Land Registry’s platform for business e-services, is to close on Saturday 19 June 2010 at 5pm. Anyone who wishes to continue to access their electronic services are required to switch over to the new Business e-services available through the Land Registry...
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FSA to be abolished...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 17th, 2010 | Comments Off
17 June 2010 George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, last night revealed government plans to scrap the Financial Services Authority by 2012. In the biggest change to financial services regulation in 13 years, the Chancellor stated that the FSA was ?a narrow regulator, almost entirely focused...
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Scottish MPs adopt ABS compromise...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 16th, 2010 | Comments Off
16 June 2010 The Law Society of Scotland has welcomed MSPs? decision to adopt a compromise position on ownership of alternative business structures. In a debate on stage 2 amendments to the Legal Services (Scotland) Bill, Justice Committee MSPs rejected proposals for 100% external ownership and agreed...
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Government review of VBS...
Posted by admin in News Items on 06 16th, 2010 | Comments Off
16 June 2010 The Government has announced that registration with the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) will be halted to allow it to remodel the scheme back to proportionate, common sense levels. Voluntary registration with the VBS for new employees and job-movers working or volunteering with children...
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