Bottomline
Spring 2012
It's 8:06pm on Wednesday 22nd February, 2012
How Lexcel accreditation can strengthen your law firm
Regular readers of my blog will know I have talked on numerous occasions about the benefits to law firms of gaining Lexcel accreditation. While I have alluded to the benefits in a number of posts, I’ve decided to focus this blog entirely on the reasons why I think law firms should be looking to gain [...]
Posted by
Karen Hain
in
Advice for Professional practices, Impact of Legal Services Act
On February 17 2012
Impact of Legal Services Act: Risk management and strategy the new watchwords for law firms
With the end of the year approaching and with alternative business structures now a reality, many managing partners will be taking stock and thinking about what the future holds. Some law firms have already taken proactive action by launching new services to take advantage of deregulation under the Legal Services Act, others have taken a [...]
Posted by
Karen Hain
in
Advice for Professional practices, Impact of Legal Services Act
On November 10 2011
Impact of Legal Services Act: ABS require detailed business plans
Well, October 6 has been and gone and the initial wave of alternative business structures (ABS) is in the pipeline. The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has announced that it is considering ABS applications and about 100 are expected by the CLC this year. While it’s now unlikely the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will be [...]
Posted by
Karen Hain
in
Advice for Professional practices, Impact of Legal Services Act
On October 21 2011
Countdown to Legal Services Act: The need for good risk management
In my time advising law firms, I have learnt one irrefutable truth – lawyers, while fantastic at managing risk for clients, can be poor at risk management within their own firm. This is not really the fault of lawyers, far from it; it’s just what happens to those who’ve spent years being totally immersed in [...]
Posted by
Karen Hain
in
Advice for Professional practices, Impact of Legal Services Act
On August 11 2011
Countdown to Legal Services Act: Preparing for outcomes focused regulation
Radical changes are being implemented by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to help regulate alternative business structures allowed from October 6 2011 under the Legal Services Act. The new approach aims to protect the public interest and benefit clients through a regime of outcomes focused regulation (OFR). By focusing on overarching principles and specific outcomes, [...]
Posted by
Karen Hain
in
Advice for Professional practices, Impact of Legal Services Act
On July 18 2011
Countdown to Legal Services Act: Who’ll be your COLP and COFA?
As part of the move towards ‘outcome-focused regulation’ when the Legal Services Act 2007 becomes law on October 6 2011, the Solicitors Regulation Authority requires firms to appoint a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) and compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA). Each role involves the appointment of an individual of sufficient seniority to [...]
Posted by
Karen Hain
in
Advice for Professional practices, Impact of Legal Services Act
On June 21 2011
Countdown to Legal Services Act: Identify your weaknesses
It’s now less than four months until the Legal Services Act comes fully into effect, significantly liberalising the UK legal market by allowing non-law firms to provide legal services. With implementation just around the corner on October 6, many smaller law firms are yet to fully understand the impact it could have on their business. [...]
Posted by
Karen Hain
in
Advice for Businesses, Advice for Professional practices, Impact of Legal Services Act
On June 2 2011
Five priorities for managing partners in 2011
Karen Hain, partner and head of professional practices at Moore and Smalley Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, details five business improvement areas for law firms to become more profitable in 2011. 1. Know where work is coming from Now is the perfect time to start focusing on where work is going to come from and [...]
Posted by
Karen Hain
in
Advice for Businesses, Advice for Professional practices, Impact of Legal Services Act
On January 4 2011
