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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.

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

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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