Sponsored by

Sponsored by
INSIDE LOOK
LEARN
DISCOVER
INSIDE LOOK
LEARN
DISCOVER
Beginner's hub

Interested in a future career as a lawyer? Use The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law to get started

Apprenticeships hub

Find out about the various legal apprenticeships on offer and browse vacancies with The Law Apprenticeships Guide

SQE hub

Information on qualifying through the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, including preparation courses, study resources, QWE and more

Commercial awareness hub

Discover everything you need to know about developing your knowledge of the business world and its impact on the law

Diversity hub

The latest news and updates on the actions being taken to improve diversity and inclusion in the legal profession

Application hub

Discover advice to help you prepare for and ace your vacation scheme, training contract and pupillage applications

First-year hub

Your first-year guide to a career in law – find out how to kickstart your legal career at this early stage

Non-law hub

Your non-law guide to a career in law – everything you need to know about converting to law

COURSES
STAGES
DISCOVER
  • Commercial Question
    Articles from law firms designed to get you thinking commercially
  • Features
    These are designed to increase your knowledge of the profession
  • LCN Says
    Insights from LCN and contributors from the world of law
  • The Oracle
    Advice on issues from funding your studies to getting experience
  • LCN Weekly Newsletter
    Kickstart your legal career with the latest content in our newsletter
EXPLORE
  • News
    Discover key stories from the legal world
  • Videos
    Our videos feature interviews and webinars on careers in law
  • Podcast
    Hear from the experts via The LawCareers.Net Podcast
  • Blogs
    Hear from your peers about their journey into the profession
DISCOVER
Back to overview

News

Login | Register

ABS: reality starts to take shape

updated on 04 April 2011

The Law Society has voted in favour of putting forward to the Legal Services Board the SRA's application to become a designated Alternative Business Structures (ABS) licensing authority. This means that when the Legal Services Act comes into force in October this year, the SRA will be able to regulate the new business entities.

Law Society CEO Desmond Hudson said ABS will change the way law firms are allowed to operate. He says: "The Law Society believes it is right that we should seek to regulate ABS and we want to be certain that the regulatory framework guarantees the same levels of probity and consumer protection that has been the tradition of the solicitors' profession."

In other news, the Co-operative Group has announced that it is considering converting to become an ABS, thus allowing it to offer legal services through its network of bank branches. Reported in Legal Week, the company has been building up its legal arm over several years, in anticipation of the act's reforms, and already offers advice on a number of legal issues, including personal injury, probate and estate administration, conveyancing and employment law.

For more on the implications of the Legal Services Act, read our feature.

Explore
LawCareers.NET
Follow us on
Law Business Research
© 2024 - Law Business Research