25% Call Rise for Estates And Lettings Agents
Since the beginning of March with the traditional Easter property rush fast approaching, Moneypenny, the UK’s leading provider of telephone answering services, has recorded a spike in calls to a large number of its estate and lettings agent clients. Moneypenny currently provides telephone answering to more than 700 estate and lettings agents and has seen […]
Today’s Conveyancer talks to Claire Barker
Claire is the managing partner of Equilaw Ltd and Chair of the Equity Release Solicitors Alliance. She took a traditional path into law, working in a residential property team in a mid-size corporate firm. This is where, 13 years ago, she started working with one of her current business partners. She set up the equity […]
SRA announcement on keeping of the roll
This year solicitors will be able to complete the keeping the roll process online through the mySRA portal. The exercise will run from mid-April to mid-June. The 2013 fee of £20 will be payable by credit or debit card as part of the application process. Solicitors whose names have been on the roll for 50 […]
Welcome to the Brief
The 2013 legal awards season kicked off last week with the ever popular Manchester Legal Awards. Over 500 of the region’s best talent crammed into the Midland Hotel and there were a few sore heads the following morning – ours included! If you want to see who was there then check out the Gallery section […]
SearchFlow Launch Individual Project Websites as Enhancement to Site Assembly
Updated web-based software allows users of Site Assembly to showcase projects to clients online Project and site document libraries, tailored plans and mapping data can now be complied and accessed securely from anywhere Individual project websites will increase the flexibility, portability and usability of the Site Assembly service SearchFlow, the conveyancing search provider, has enhanced […]
Law Society call on conveyancers to act
Law Society Chief Executive Desmond Hudson told a meeting of the Conveyancing Association that they had a role to play in shaping the regulator. At the meeting, last Thursday, Mr Hudson talked about the changing nature of the market and said that solicitors need to respond in order to sustain their businesses. He said that […]
Law Society issues practice note offering online guidance
The Law Society have issued a new practice note to help solicitors responsible for their firm’s online presence or marketing. It illustrates the importance of protecting and maintaining online reputation pointing out that online reputation, whether personal or corporate, can be damaged in a number of ways. The note describes steps that should be taken […]
Law Society releases financial crime investigation note
The Law Society has urged all solicitors to read their latest practice note, particularly managing or senior partners, directors of risk, practice managers, money laundering reporting officers or staff appointed to respond to enquiries from law enforcement. The note is designed to help navigate between the obligation to assist law enforcement attempts to investigate criminal […]
CLC launches new course
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has launched a new course explaining the basics of conveyancing. The course is aimed at staff working in a wide range of sectors such as legal, property or financial services. Costing £225, the Conveyancing: Basic Principles in Practice course is at A Level (level 3) standard and includes six assignments. […]
SRA: Reporting requirements eased on non-material breaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced yesterday that it plans to drop the requirement for compliance officers to annually report all non-material breaches to the SRA. The decision is subject to approval from the SRA board and compliance officers for legal practice (COLPs) and finance and administration (COFAs) will still need to record non-material breaches […]
SLC Expands Its Online Ordering Platform
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has expanded its electronic ordering platform, adding to the documents its members are able to access via the online system, which is run by ETSOS. In addition to the host of legal products, which SLC members can already purchase online, the ability to order Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) has […]
Peppermint wins technology innovation award
Leading software company Peppermint Technology, have won the 2013 KnowList Award for Technology Innovation. TheKnowList was developed in 2009 and initially launched to the professional services sector with an emphasis on legal technology news and analysis. The focus has broadened into the wider business community, with emphasis on thought leadership and insights into better strategy […]
First time buyer activity at four year high
According to the latest Housing Market Activity Report by Connells Survey & Valuation February saw first time buyer numbers rise to their highest level for four years. New buyers in February outnumbered those a year ago by 13%, after six months of consecutive growth. John Bagshaw, corporate services director, Connells Survey & Valuation said: “More […]
Lawyers2you owners fold and 250 staff let go
All 250 solicitors and employees of Midlands firm Blakemores, owner of the consumer brand Lawyers2you, were told yesterday to clear their desks and go home. The Solicitors Regulation Authority had intervened ‘in order to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients), or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which […]
SRA issues warning over ‘Morgan Pierce Solicitors’
The SRA has on 12th March issued an alert over the email address info@pierceconsult.com and website www.pierceconsult.com which purport to relate to ‘Morgan Pierce Solicitors. The SRA do not regulate or authorise a firm with the name ‘Morgan Pierce Solicitors’, and warn that any transactions involving a firm of this name, or the contact details […]
Making properties tradable
If the phrase “it can’t be done” had dismayed the world’s leaders we would still be in the Stone Age. Second only to divorce, moving house is right up there in the stress stakes. No one really likes the process yet nothing changes. In these articles over the next three months we will look at […]
Today’s Conveyancer talks to Samantha Jones
Samantha is the Head of Property at Moneypenny, a company who look after business telephone calls. How can Moneypenny help conveyancers? In a best case scenario your receptionists would always be able to answer your calls. However, the reality is that isn’t always possible. When they are particularly busy, staffing levels are low or even […]
Law Society of Scotland’s working party recommends mandatory separate representation
In an AGM last year the Law Society of Scotland agreed to examine a potential change to Rule B 2.1.4 which governs joint representation for Scottish conveyancers. A working party to review this rule was set up. Specifically sub-clause (f), of the rule provides an exemption to the general bar on acting for more than one […]
SRA issues warning over fraud using the name of Universal Solicitors
The SRA has on 8 March issued an alert over a fraud involving fake letters using the name of Universal Solicitors. The SRA states that fake documentation has been sent out using the name Universal Solicitors. This documentation gives an address of 94 Whitechapel High Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 7RA. The telephone number 0203 […]
New CEO's for DMG Information Asia Pacific and Landmark Information Group
The business information division of the Daily Mail & General Trust plc, DMG Information (DMGI), has announced the appointment of Stephen Stout as CEO DMGI Asia Pacific. The newly created position will include responsibility for developing DMGI’s presence in Asia and adjacent markets. The role will be based in Singapore. He said of his appointment: “After […]