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A hard Act to follow

18 June 2009 / Simon Young
Issue: 7374 / Categories: Features , Legal services , Profession
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Part two: Simon Young reports on the pick & mix approach of the Legal Services Act 2009

The first article in this short series looked at the various institutions created by the Legal Services Act 2007 (LSA 2007) (see NLJ, 17 April 2009, p 554).This second offering deals with the first practical opportunity for changing businesses under LSA 2007, namely legal disciplinary practices (LDPs); the third will look at the ultimate in opening up of the legal services market, alternative business structures (ABSs).

The concept of LDPs was one first raised by Sir David Clementi, in his seminal report: Review of the Regulatory Framework for Legal Services in England and Wales. The final nature of them, however, went through substantial change in the last few days of political horse trading before the Legal Services Bill was passed into law late in 2007. The concept is simple, but its working out in practice is not.

Services on offer

At base, the idea is that businesses providing legal services need not only

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Carey Olsen—Kim Paiva

Carey Olsen—Kim Paiva

Group partner joins Guernsey banking and finance practice

Morgan Lewis—Kat Gibson

Morgan Lewis—Kat Gibson

London labour and employment team announces partner hire

Foot Anstey McKees—Chris Milligan & Michael Kelly

Foot Anstey McKees—Chris Milligan & Michael Kelly

Double partner appointment marks Belfast expansion

NEWS
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After the Southport murders and the misinformation that followed, contempt of court law has come under intense scrutiny. In this week's NLJ, Lawrence McNamara and Lauren Schaefer of the Law Commission unpack proposals aimed at restoring clarity without sacrificing fair trial rights
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