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02 December 2010 / Dr Jon Robins
Issue: 7444 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services , Profession
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An unfair divide?

Here’s a disquieting thought as we approach the brave new liberalised legal services world...

Some 80% of the work undertaken by law firms falls within the category of “non-reserved” legal work...in other words, anyone (not just lawyers) can do it.

The figure was arrived at by Professor Stephen Mayson, the legal academic who came up with the memorable and equally alarming finding that as many as 3,000 law firms could go to the wall as a result of the reforms flowing from the Legal Services Act 2007.

More questions than answers?

Well, the following questions spring to mind: Despite all the fuss in the legal press, what’s the point in new market entrants becoming alternative business structures next October if most of their business doesn’t actually need to be regulated? What’s the point in employing lawyers to do the kind of work which non-lawyers can do and, frankly, what’s the point in becoming a lawyer at all?

This is the first in a series of three articles looking at the six reserved

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

HFW—Simon Petch

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Global shipping practice expands with experienced ship finance partner hire

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

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Infrastructure specialist joins as partner in Glasgow office

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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