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Profession
Legal Ombudsman rules are to be harmonised with those of the Financial Services Ombudsman from this month.
Time limits for accepting a complaint are to increase to six years from the date of act/commission, or three years from the date of knowledge. The new limit will be introduced gradually, and complaints will not be accepted where the date of act or knowledge goes beyond 6 October 2010.
Financial limits will increase from £30,000 to £50,000 and the Ombudsman can now accept complaints from prospective customers.
From April, complaints investigated will incur a £400 case fee, but those following reasonable first tier complaints processes will be eligible for a case fee waiver. The ‘two free cases’ system is to be dropped because more lawyers were found to handle first tier complaints successfully than initially projected.
Widening responsibilities for alternative business structures and claims management companies have brought about the changes. See also p 17.
Time limits for accepting a complaint are to increase to six years from the date of act/commission, or three years from the date of knowledge. The new limit will be introduced gradually, and complaints will not be accepted where the date of act or knowledge goes beyond 6 October 2010.
Financial limits will increase from £30,000 to £50,000 and the Ombudsman can now accept complaints from prospective customers.
From April, complaints investigated will incur a £400 case fee, but those following reasonable first tier complaints processes will be eligible for a case fee waiver. The ‘two free cases’ system is to be dropped because more lawyers were found to handle first tier complaints successfully than initially projected.
Widening responsibilities for alternative business structures and claims management companies have brought about the changes. See also p 17.
Profession
Legal Ombudsman rules are to be harmonised with those of the Financial Services Ombudsman from this month.
Barbara Mills KC, the new Chair of the Bar, outlines some key themes and priorities
Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the role that drug, alcohol and DNA testing can play in non-court dispute resolution (NCDR)
Casey Randall explores what makes AlphaBiolabs the industry leader for court-admissible DNA testing
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
A family lawyer has won a £500 donation for her preferred charity, an education centre for women from disadvantaged backgrounds, thanks to drug, alcohol and DNA testing laboratory AlphaBiolabs’ Giving Back campaign
Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management highlights some of the ways you can cut your IHT bill
What's it like being a legal trainee at the Crown Prosecution Service? Amy describes what drew her to the role, the skills required and a typical day in the life
Barbara Mills KC wants to raise the profile of the family Bar. She also wants to improve wellbeing and enhance equality, diversity and inclusion in the profession. She talks to Joshua Rozenberg KC (hon) about her plans for the year ahead
Are Birmingham’s Intensive Supervision Courts successfully turning women offenders’ lives around? Chloe Ashley talks to District Judge Michelle Smith
Professor Dominic Regan and Seán Jones KC identify good value bottles across the price spectrum – from festive fizz to reliable reds
Governments who play fast and loose with the law get into real trouble, says the new Attorney General. The Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC talks to Anthony Inglese CB about what drew this boy from Cardiff to the Bar, bringing the barrister ethos to the front bench, and how he will be measuring success
