header-logo header-logo

27 November 2009 / Desmond Hudson , Desmond Hudson
Issue: 7395 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services , Profession
printer mail-detail

Up for referral

comment_4_4

As well as urging government and the Legal Services Board to undertake proper research on the effect of referral fees, Council has decided that the society should argue that referral fees do not have a place in markets for legal services and that payment of referral fees by all providers of legal services should be banned.

The Law Society’s Council voted earlier this month to amend its policy with respect to referral fees.

As well as urging government and the Legal Services Board to undertake proper research on the effect of referral fees, Council has decided that the society should argue that referral fees do not have a place in markets for legal services and that payment of referral fees by all providers of legal services should be banned.

The debate has a long history. Since the controversial decision to permit solicitors to pay referral fees, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has looked at the matter, particularly in the light of findings which suggest that there is a significant lack

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

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’
back-to-top-scroll