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25 January 2007 / Desmond Hudson , Desmond Hudson
Issue: 7257 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Grasping the nettle

Des Hudson explains why firms need to meet the challenge of modern client expectations head on

It is always difficult to spot seminal points of change when embroiled in them, and generally it’s best to avoid forecasts. That said, 2007 is likely to prove to be one of the most important years in recent history for our profession and for the Law Society—primarily because the Legal Services Bill will complete its passage through Parliament.

By the end of this month the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) and the Legal Complaints Service (LCS) will have been launched. This is an important step on the road to modernising the profession. The SRA will deal with all regulatory and disciplinary matters, and set, monitor and enforce standards for solicitors. Formerly known as the Law Society Regulation Board, it acts solely in the public interest. The LCS is for members of the public wishing to make a complaint about solicitors. This independent and impartial body will work with solicitors to resolve any issues quickly and efficiently, before the

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Partner joinscorporate and finance practice in British Virgin Islands

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Firm strengthens children department with adoption and surrogacy expert

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Media and technology expert joins employment team as partner in Cambridge

NEWS
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Thousands more magistrates are to be recruited, under a major shake-up to speed up and expand the hiring process
The winners of the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2026 have now been announced, marking another outstanding celebration of excellence, innovation, and impact across the legal profession
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
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