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Future of Legal Services: or the Future is Now

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2011

Clare Brown
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Abstract

Clare Brown of Collyer Bristow revisits her earlier research on how the legal landscape is changing as a result of changes in regulation; the opening up of the profession to alternative business models and the effect of the internet on legal service provision.

Keywords

law firmsregulationinternet
Type
The Legal Profession in a Changing World
Information
Legal Information Management , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , June 2011 , pp. 101 - 104
Copyright
Copyright © The British and Irish Association of Law Librarians 2011

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References

Footnotes

1 Charles Plant, “Approval for Handbook and licensing authority application” Solicitors Regulation Authority Board meeting, 15 March 2011” http://www.sra.org.uk/sra/news/board-statement-handbook-abs.page

2 Rachel Rothwell, “Hudson issues warning on ABS crime risk”, Law Society Gazette, 17 March 2011 http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/hudson-issues-warning-abs-crime-risk

3 Law Society, The Law Society's approach to Alternative Business Structures (ABS), 10 February 2011, p6

4 Rachel Rothwell, “Solicitors believe ABSs will create more opportunity”, Law Society Gazette, 4 November 2010 http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/solicitors-believe-abss-will-create-more-opportunity

5 There has been a lot of talk about law firms becoming more like GP practices rather than the Tesco law model. Legal Week said: “My belief is that they can survive in this competitive marketplace … It means that lawyers need to look at the ways other professionals have adapted, for example, in medicine, where general practitioners (GPs) have evolved to offer localised triage service and refer clients to specialist providers when appropriate.” http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/analysis/2034448/tesco-law-law-lawyers-future-gps

The hub could be about the physical building – like a drop-in centre – but also about building online communities too, e.g. wikis, FAQs, “your rights”, small business information help and advice, local planning issues, etc. So you might come in for a basic will but go out with an appointment for tax advice/financial planning and also have been referred to the firm's website for help with the local schools admission policies.

6 “Diversity, that is my motto. [Fr., Diversite, c'est ma devise.]” Jean de La Fontaine Quotes Source:Pate d' Anguille http://www.worldofquotes.com/topic/Variety/index.html

7 Michael Scutt, ‘Compete on Quality Not Price’, 19 January 2011, http://troubleahead.co.uk/2011/01/19/compete-on-quality-not-price/

8 James Dean, ‘Wigster comparison site signs up Shoosmiths' consumer arm’, Law Society Gazette, 26 November 2010, http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/wigster-comparison-site-signs-shoosmiths-consumer-arm

9 ‘60% of people would buy legal advice from brands like Barclays, AA, Co-op and Virgin, 8 March 2011’, http://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/60-of-consumers-would-buy-legal-advice-from-brands-like-barclays-aa-co-op-and-virgin

10 Epoq is both a company and a software brand see www.epoq.co.uk/

11 www.halifaxlegalexpress.co.uk/

12 Catherine Baksi, ‘Legal brand to launch national franchise’, 23 September 2010, http://www.highstreetlawyer.com/news.asp

13 ‘Too little too late?’ NLJ 11 March 2011 http://www.newlawjournal.co.uk/nlj/comment/reply/6954 and Can Face2Face Solicitors really call itself a franchise? Solicitors Journal, 15 March 2011

14 Justice Minister supports ‘one stop shops’ for legal services, 23 September 2010

15 Grania Langdon-Down, ‘Family lawyers face up to challenges ahead’, 17 March 2011 http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/features/family-lawyers-face-challenges-ahead

16 Stop Press addendum, The Law Society Council have agreed to the SRA's application to become a licensing authority for ABS (LSG 31/3/11)