Home >
Law >
Reference Resources >
Brave New World: Impact of the Legal Services Act 2007

Brave New World: Impact of the Legal Services Act 2007

Author: Intendance Research
Publisher: Sweet & Maxwell U.K.
ISBN: 9781847032522
Published In: July 2007
Format: Paperback
Jurisdiction: U.K. ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

Out of stock

Description
Contents
Author

Details

Have you thought of how the Legal Services Act might impact the legal profession? Brave New World: Impact of the Legal Services Act is an in-depth survey of high-ranking opinion formers from across the English legal profession into the opportunities and threats posed by the forthcoming Legal Services Act that is bound to get you thinking. The legal profession faces its greatest challenge as a result of this legislation and although it may take some time for the changes to be felt, judging by the findings, the upheaval could be seismic.

Essential reading for every member of the legal profession, Brave New World examines the impact of what has been described as Big Bang for the legal profession. Based on the results of two comprehensive surveys, alongside a detailed analysis of the findings, this report by Thomson Sweet & Maxwell and Intendance Research outlines the implications presented by the Act for High Street and commercial firms, and for members of the Bar.

Results that could surprise you
The majority of respondents believe that High Street lawyers will be drastically affected by the reforms and that although the Bar will not be driven to extinction in the next 10 years, it will not survive in the shape it is now. There are a number of disincentives for commercial law firms to take advantage of the main provisions of the Act, but the impact of the reforms is still likely to be deeply felt even amongst the leading practices. Furthermore, the survey found that nearly half of respondents are interested in adopting an ABS and 37% expressed an interest in accessing external capital. It also found that the majority of those surveyed expected that partnership will become the exception rather than the norm for law firms within the next ten years.

Contents
Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Executive Summary of the 2007 survey

1.Sectorial Analysis

Retail legal services - All change

2.The Wider Picture

3.The 2007 Survey

4.Appendices

Commercial law firms – Pick and Mix
The Bar – Leaner and fitter
The end of professionalism?
Regulation – A dead hand?
Piling it high – The impact of technology
The potential impact of ABSs
The effect of the reforms on the structure of firms
The effect of the reforms on Chambers
The effect of the reforms on commercial organisations
Restrictions due to Bar/regulatory restrictions in other countries
Opportunities and threats
Reforming regulation and complaints handling
Overview of the reforms
Who will be most affected by the reforms?
Summary of views on the impending legal reforms
Appendix A – The 2007 survey methodology
Appendix B – The 2005 survey and questionnaire
Biographies and contact information

Leading opinions
The views of a number of respected commentators from both the legal and other professions are also incorporated into the report to help gain a broader appreciation of the results and the Act, such as Fiona Woolf (President of the Law Society), Geoffrey Vos QC (Chairman of the Bar Council), Tony Williams (legal management consultant and former managing partner of Clifford Chance and Anderson Legal), and Professor Stephen Mayson (Director of The College of Laws Legal Services Policy Institute).