header-logo header-logo

10 November 2011 / Anna Bradley
Issue: 7488 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services
printer mail-detail

A new dawn

Anna Bradley predicts a bright future for alternative business structures

Alternative business structures (ABSs) could be the catalyst for dramatic change in the shape and culture of the legal sector. On 6 October providers were given a new opportunity to deliver what their consumers need, in the way they want to access it. This landmark change represents a huge opportunity for forward-thinking legal service providers and that is why the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has grasped the chance to be the first to licence ABS.

The CLC record

The CLC is itself a creature of innovation, established in 1985 to open up the conveyancing market to non-solicitors, creating more consumer choice. It now regulates over 200 recognised bodies and over a thousand individuals—some 10%-15% of the conveyancing market by turnover.

The CLC believes in the benefits of opening up the legal services market to make it more competitive and focused on the consumers it should serve. The CLC’s designation as a licensing authority is a symbol of willingness to embrace change and

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
The legal profession’s claim to be a ‘guardian of fairness’ is under scrutiny after stark findings on gender imbalance and opaque progression. Writing in NLJ this week, Joshua Purser of No5 Barristers’ Chambers and Govindi Deerasinghe of Global 50/50 warn that leadership remains dominated by a narrow elite, with men holding 71% of top court roles
A legal challenge to police disclosure rules has failed, reinforcing a push for transparency in policing. In NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth examines a case where the Metropolitan Police required officers to declare membership of groups like the Freemasons
Bereavement leave is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Writing in NLJ this week, Robert Hargreaves of York St John University explains how the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a day-one right to leave for a wider range of losses, alongside new provisions for pregnancy loss and bereaved partners
Courts are beginning to grapple with whether AI-generated material is legally privileged—and the answers are mixed. In this week's issue of NLJ, Stacie Bourton, Tom Whittaker & Beata Kolodziej of Burges Salmon examine US rulings showing how easily privilege can be lost
New guidance seeks to bring order to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Minesh Tanna and David Bridge of Simmons & Simmons set out a framework stressing ‘transparency’, ‘explainability’ and ‘reliability’
back-to-top-scroll