“We all want to see a system where it is only the very rich that pay inheritance tax, and not hard working people.” — A quote by Prime Minister, David Cameron during a debate in
The UK legal sector has spent years ‘paying’ for unanswered and badly handled telephone calls with lost revenues and dissatisfied clients. Help is now at hand with the launch of an innovative bespoke legal call
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” – Benjamin Franklin The 2015 general election is fast approaching and so the Labour Party, Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats, along with
The Manchester office of Laytons Solicitors has confirmed the appointment of Liz Braude as Partner in its Private Client team. Liz joins from Pannone part of Slater & Gordon where she was Partner and Head
VouchedFor.co.uk, the reviews website for solicitors, will be publishing a guide to the UK’s Top Rated solicitors, accountants and financial advisers in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper on the 29th March 2015. VouchedFor will be listing
The Earl of Cardigan has reportedly had to admit defeat after undertaking a legal battle with Savernake Estate Trustees, who had been fighting for approval to sell the main property located within the estate that
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have published a warning notice reminding solicitors why a client account should not be mis-used for clients or others. The notice explains why use is prohibited, what represents mis-use of
Two new appointments to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Board have been announced. Elaine Williams, former Deputy Group Company Secretary at HSBC, and David Willis, former joint Chief Executive of international legal firm Herbert Smith
Both the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Contact Centre and Ethics Guidance teams will be answering calls between 29th December and 2nd January. They are both closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) are launching a new research project into innovation in the legal services market, in partnership with the Legal Services Board. The University of Warwick will conduct the research, which will
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) Annual Review for 2013/14, which was published yesterday, sets out SRA’s progress against their strategic objectives for the past 12 months. The Review, which is available on the SRA website
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today published the findings of its thematic review into annuity sales practices and the interim findings of a market study into retirement income. In February 2014 the FCA found
Last week brought a few welcome changes for the wills and probate industry, with taxing alterations being applied to ISAs, pensions and trusts. What does this mean for probate professionals and are there any stipulations
Due to some cancellations, The Society of Will Writers has announced the availability of three free spaces available on a WillPack training session on 16th December. This one day seminar is open to WillPack members
In a first for the UK, US authorities have given the go-ahead for a UK based company to issue fast track medallion signature guarantees to personal representatives when transferring ownership of US listed shares. Until
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) are warning firms to be wary of scammers tricking them into disclosing bank security information over the telephone. Four firms have been targeted this way recently, and collectively have had
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today published standards for the bodies responsible for delivering the Government’s new Guidance Guarantee aimed at those with defined contribution (DC) pensions. The FCA has also published rules requiring
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has set out plans to support small firms in a paper released at today’s SRA national conference for compliance officers in Birmingham. Chief Executive Paul Philip used his opening address
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have announced they are reviewing the Separate Business Rule (SBR) to make it easier for solicitors to own businesses providing other professional services to clients. A consultation has been launched
Launched today, the new Corporate Strategy sets out the direction the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will take over the next three years. The strategy is supported by the authority’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, and
On publishing their Autumn Update to the Risk Outlook the industry regulator states that they ‘remain concerned’ about the number of bogus law firms and risks that this poses. Identity theft has been at the
Law and compliance training providers, MBL have announced their latest wills and probate courses that are set to take place throughout the winter season. MBL are experts in a wide range of legal sectors and
Research conducted by The Law Society last month has revealed most people in Britain don’t have a will in place. This new data should be a wake-up call for wills and probate professionals to promote
The Institute of Professional Will Writers (IPW) are holding their next group meeting within the North West of England, at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester. On Thursday 4th December, both members of the institute
#SolicitorHour is the legal profession’s dedicated hour on Twitter, where Law Society members and practitioners are given this time to engage with the public, peers, colleagues and professional bodies in a public forum dedicated to
Last week, many law firms across the UK received contact from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) indicating the business hadn’t renewed their PII cover, and were at risk of being shut down. Over 1,800 firms
Chartered accountancy firm, Hope Shaw has become the first sole practitioner to be given authorisation to provide probate services to their clients. The Dorset-based firm is the only non-ABS accountancy business to be granted a
The Government has announced at the beginning of the month that £1 million of funding is being offered to end of life care providers in a new scheme, with an aim to improve the service
Protecting client money is at the heart of the innovation of Lawyer Checker — the business has seen phenomenal growth over the past 12 months and firms are registering daily. Following the second Risk Outlook
It is always imperative to follow compliance guidelines and legislation when preparing a will with a client, in particular the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Code of Conduct 2011. However, if the client wishes to leave
The Legal Ombudsman has called for the Government to work together with wills and probate regulators and representative bodies, to tackle the issue of sub-standard service within the industry. Only 13% of the 8,000 wills