News 2015
News 2015
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The use of experts in family law 17 December, 2015 - MOJ publishes report into the processes by which experts are appointed
Bar Council issues guide to tackling sexual harassment 17 December, 2015 - Bar Council issues guidance on how to prevent and deal with sexual harassment in chambers
CILEx 7 year rule abolished for Legal Executives 17 December, 2015 - CILEx announces that law degrees no longer have to have been completed within the last seven years to qualify for exemptions against CILEx qualifications. 
SRA proposes new solicitor qualifying examination 12 December, 2015 - SRA announces controversial shake-up in the way in which solicitors will be qualifying in the future
Chancellor’s statement hits PI firms 27 November, 2015 - Chancellor hits PI firms with plans to transfer PI claims of up to £5,000 to small claims court and scrap general damages for ‘minor’ soft tissue injuries.
Another new regulatory model – more of the same? 27 November, 2015 - SRA outlines new vision for future and fundamental shift away from prescriptive rules to protect public by setting out principles solicitors should follow. 
Transgender guidance 22 November, 2015 - Law Society publishes guidance for solicitors on good practice in working with transgender employees
Land Registry warns of fake emails 17 November, 2015 - HMLR warns customers have recently been receiving fake or “phishing” emails claiming to be requisitions or replies to requisitions
SRA consumer credit proposals pass next hurdle 13 November, 2015 - SRA proposed regime for consumer credit regulation has been approved by Financial Conduct Authority
SME legal needs remain unmet LSB research reveals 27 October, 2015 - LSB publishes follow up report looking at the legal needs of small businesses and links the success of small firms to the ease with which they can access the support and advice they need - especially in relation to the law and dispute resolution
SAHCA launches referral portal 27 October, 2015 - SAHCA launches web site - The Court Advocacy Network - to give solicitors alternative to having to instruct agents or members of the Bar.
BSB consults on yet more flexibility for barristers 20 October, 2015 - BSB to consult on proposals to broaden the definition of employment for barristers working in-house for organisations that are not authorised law firms
Regulators consult on minor changes to QASA 12 October, 2015 - Joint Advocacy Group Launches consultation on minor changes to QASA
Change to sole practitioner authorisation 7 October, 2015 - Legal Services Board agrees to changes proposed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to the way it authorises sole practitioners.
Law Society updates guidance on EU Directive on Consumer ADR 23 September, 2015 - Law Society updates advice for firms on compliance with UK regulations which transpose the EU Directive on consumer alternative dispute resolution- LSB considers regulatory burdens on in-house lawyers 23 September, 2015 - LSB begins consultation on principles, which if adopted will inform decisions it makes about the regulatory arrangements for in-house lawyers
- SRA agrees to regulate consumer credit 14 September, 2015 - SRA agreement means solicitors will be able to carry out certain consumer credit activities under SRA authorisation provided activities are central to the legal services they provide
SRA to further cut red tape 10 September, 2015 - SRA approves changes to further cut red tape and provide new ways of becoming a solicitor
Law Society of Scotland to respond to legal market changes 19 August, 2015 - Law Society of Scotland launches new strategy to expand range of services offered and open doors to other legal professionals as well as solicitors.
Practising Certificate Renewals 15 August, 2015 - SRA announces that the practising certificate renewal period this year will run from 1 to 31 October with fees remaining unchanged- LSB publishes legislative options paper 1 August, 2015 - The Legal Services Board publishes paper exploring options for reform of the Legal Services Act 2007
- SRA Issues criminal legal action guidance 28 July, 2015 - SRA issues guidance to solicitors planning action over criminal legal aid changes stating required standards must continue to be met and clients must remain protected
Law Society welcomes CHAPS extension 24 July, 2015 - Bank of England proposes that the time for CHAPS payments will be extended to align more closely with the typical business day- LSB Chief Executive to step down 22 July, 2015 - LSB announces that chief executive, Richard Moriarty, will step down from his role in February 2016
Reporting Accountants’ requirements relaxed 16 July, 2015 - SRA announces that changes are to be made to the format of accountants' reports for solicitors' practices
CLC Move to London 26 June, 2015 - CLC will be moving its offices from Chelmsford to London in August 2015
LeO sets out strategy and business priorities 18 June, 2015 - LeO publishes revised strategy for 2015-17 and business priorities for 2015-16- LSB Publishes Annual Report 12 June, 2015 - LSB publishes Annual Report & Accounts for 2014/15 describing role it plays in assuring public of the independence and competence of legal regulators.
Litigants in Person Guidelines 9 June, 2015 - Bar Council, CILEx & Law Society publish guidelines for lawyers dealing with litigants in person
Cyber Crime on the Increase 3 June, 2015 - SRA warns cyber crime on the increase with more and more reports being received of firms falling victim to fraudulent activity
Magistrates’ and Crown Courts to get wi-fi by October 2015. 28 May, 2015 - Wi-fi rollout in magistrates’ and Crown Courts across England and Wales is being speeded up and all 302 sites will now be equipped by October 2015
CILEx Regulation appoints new Chief Executive 20 May, 2015 - CILEx Regulation, the regulatory body for the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) has appointed Helen Whiteman as its new Chief Executive.- LSB launches regulator survey 17 May, 2015 - The Legal Services Board launches regulator survey inviting views about one of the eight legal services regulators in England and Wales.
- SRA launches small firms team 14 May, 2015 - SRA sets up a specialist team dedicated to helping small firms needing advice and guidance on compliance issues.
Legal aid change for Welsh homeless 30 April, 2015 - A change in the rules means that assistance with legal advice will now available in Wales for anyone threatened with homelessness within 56 days as opposed to the previous 28 day limit.- Janet Paraskeva to be Chair of CLC 28 April, 2015 - Former Chief Executive of the Law Society, Dame Janet Paraskeva, has been named as new Chair of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers
Law Society publishes latest Annual Statistics Report 28 April, 2015 - Law Society publishes its latest Annual Statistics Report revealing a slight growth in the number of practising solicitors- SRA Bank Scam Warning 28 April, 2015 - SRA continues to call for extra vigilance across the sector after a small north east conveyancing firm became the latest victim of a telephone bank scam.
- Handbook Reaches version 13 4 April, 2015 - Competence statement features in latest version of The Solicitors Regulation Authority's Handbook which now reaches version 13.
ILEX Professional Standards’ becomes ‘CILEx Regulation’ 27 March, 2015 - ILEX Professional Standards (IPS) changes its name to CILEx Regulation.
SRA issues telephone scams warning 21 March, 2015 - SRA warns firms not to be duped into disclosing bank security information over the telephone
SRA to stop regulating insolvency practitioners 14 March, 2015 - SRA announces that as of 1 November 2015 it will no longer regulate solicitors who act as insolvency practitioners- Legal action started over government’s ‘flat tax’ on court fees 25 February, 2015 - The Law Society joins Bar Council, Foil and other signatories to a pre-action protocol letter for judicial review to challenge the government's decision to increase some court fees by over 600 per cent.
Bogus law firms ‘on the rise’ 25 February, 2015 - Law Society of Scotland warns Scottish solicitors and members of the public to be on the alert for fraudulent and bogus law firms
Nationwide to require solicitor panel to be CQS accredited 18 February, 2015 - Nationwide confirms that as of summer 2015 all members of its solicitor panel will be required to be Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accredited- New CPD Approach begins in April 16 February, 2015 - SRA reminds solicitors that as of 1 April they will be able to tailor their own continuing professional development (CPD) more closely to their own specific needs
SRA issues Confidentiality Guidance 2 February, 2015 - SRA isssues new guidance on ensuring client confidentiality is maintained - dealing with a number of issues including third parties having access to client information.
QC launches social networking site 26 January, 2015 - Manchester-based QC launches a new social networking site for the legal services sector.- FCA agrees to consumer credit extension 22 January, 2015 - FCA agrees to request from the Solicitors Regulation Authority for a further extension to the transitional arrangements for regulation of consumer credit activities.
Concerns over protection of professional communications 21 January, 2015 - Law Society, Bar Council, British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and National Union of Journalists (NUJ) combine forces to raise concerns over proposals in draft code of practice for the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).
IPS launches entity regulation 17 January, 2015 - New and existing law firms can now apply to ILEX Professional Standards (IPS) for authorisation as a legal business.
SRA warns about client account usage 16 January, 2015 - SRA publishes warning notice reminding solicitors why a client account should not be mis-used for clients or others. 
Changes to CLC Handbook 6 January, 2015 - Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) makes a number of minor changes to its handbook