header-logo header-logo

02 March 2012 / Deborah Evans
Issue: 7503 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services
printer mail-detail

Proceed with care

Deborah Evans warns against too much change, too soon

Too much change, too quickly, is dangerous. While there are many areas the government would like to reform, it is not necessary or sensible to do it all within the same year. The government should be urged to proceed with care, understanding the impact of each change before imposing the next, and asking itself regularly whether further change is necessary.

As well as the sweeping reforms of conditional fee agreements (CFAs) in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Bill, and the removal of legal aid for clinical negligence, personal injury lawyers face the impact of the introduction of alternative business structures (ABSs), the ban on referral fees, review of fixed fees, destruction of the after-the-event insurance market, and just to top it off nicely an extension of the road traffic accident (RTA) portal coupled with a couple of new portals to help control David Cameron’s perceived health and safety “monster”.

Referral fee ban unworkable?

ABSs (such as the Co-op) will

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

NLJ Career Profile: Hugo Plowman, Mishcon de Reya

NLJ Career Profile: Hugo Plowman, Mishcon de Reya

From global fraud cases to fishing off-grid, Mishcon de Reya’s chair of dispute resolution Hugo Plowman discusses mentors, management switching off

Maguire Family Law—Jennifer Hudec, Ciara Florey, Alice Ferguson & Ruth Wynn

Maguire Family Law—Jennifer Hudec, Ciara Florey, Alice Ferguson & Ruth Wynn

Maguire Family Law announces partner promotion and new hires amid a record year for enquiries

Switalskis—Rebecca Parry & Hannah Gamble

Switalskis—Rebecca Parry & Hannah Gamble

Switalskis wills and probate team extends reach with two appointments

NEWS
Restrictions on workplace non-disclosure agreements could make settlements slower, more complex and more expensive when reforms expected in 2027 take effect
Private prosecutors face closer scrutiny under Crown Prosecution Service guidance designed to strengthen accountability and consistency when intervention is requested
Foreign states cannot necessarily claim immunity for cyber operations launched abroad against computers in Britain, following a divided Supreme Court ruling
Defendants who make unsupported complaints about their lawyers risk losing legal aid while confiscation proceedings continue without representation
Lawyers advising Russian clients face different sanctions restrictions across the UK, EU and US, despite their shared objective of increasing pressure on Russia
back-to-top-scroll