header-logo header-logo

09 September 2010 / Rita Leat
Issue: 7432 / Categories: Features , Wills & Probate
printer mail-detail

Safety first

Regulation? It’s faster in Scotland. Rita Leat explains why

The debate for regulation of will writing rumbles on in England with a host of supporters for regulation, among whom the Law Society and the Fellowship of Professional Willwriters & Probate Practitioners have featured heavily, without reaching a successful outcome. Why is this? Perhaps, until the existence of the Legal Services Act 2007 and the establishment of the Legal Services Board (LSB) as an over-arching regulator for legal services, there simply has not been an easy vehicle that could make regulation happen.

Arguably the Legal Services Act 2007 creates the greatest changes in legal regulation for over a century and has opened up the access to the law. This will hopefully and ultimately change the way many people regard the law. No longer will consumers have to obtain their legal services from solicitors; other providers can now come forward to offer their wares. Enter stage right: the so called ‘Tesco Law’.

Consumer protection

There have been cries from within the industry in the past that have

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

Thackray Williams—Lucy Zhu

Thackray Williams—Lucy Zhu

Dual-qualified partner joins as head of commercial property department

Morgan Lewis—David A. McManus

Morgan Lewis—David A. McManus

Firm announces appointment of next chair

Burges Salmon—Rebecca Wilsker

Burges Salmon—Rebecca Wilsker

Director joins corporate team from the US

NEWS
What safeguards apply when trust corporations are appointed as deputy by the Court of Protection? 
Disputing parties are expected to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where this is suitable for their case. At what point, however, does refusing to participate cross the threshold of ‘unreasonable’ and attract adverse costs consequences?
When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
back-to-top-scroll