National roll-out for online planning appeals service
The Planning Inspectorate’s new digital appeals service is being rolled out nationally following a successful pilot with five London boroughs. The roll-out will take place in three phases, with all authorities in England joining the service by December. The service has been piloted in five London boroughs (Barnet, Greenwich, Havering, Richmond upon Thames, and Bromley), where […]
LSB chief steps down after just 12 months in the role
Super-regulator, The Legal Services Board (LSB), has announced Chief Executive Craig Westwood will leave the organisation after just a year in the role having tendered his resignation citing personal reasons this week. Westwood was appointed in May 2024 and took on the role of Chief Executive having previous been Director of Communications, Policy and Research […]
tmGroup signs up to Conveyancing Information Executive
The Conveyancing Information Executive (CIE) has welcomed conveyancing technology and data company tmGroup as an associate member. The tmGroup will work closely with the CIE – which promotes best practice, transparency and innovation in the provision of conveyancing search information – to help ‘drive excellence within a recognised and trusted professional standards community’. ‘By becoming […]
SLC annual conference to be held in Derby this November
The annual conference of the Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) will take place on 12thNovember at Reach Conference Centre in Derby, followed by a dinner at the city’s Pride Park Stadium (pictured). Kate Faulkner OBE will return as host, with speakers and sessions covering topics including commonhold, AI in conveyancing and digital signatures. Hannah Knowles […]
New SRA chief confirmed to replace departing Philip
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have appointed a new Chief Executive Officer to replace the departing Paul Philip, who leaves after nearly a decade in the role. Philip retires later this year and will be replaced by Sarah Rapson, who currently serves as Executive Director Supervision at the Financial Reporting Council, and has an extensive […]
Law Society shares recommendations to ‘redefine justice as vital public service’
The Law Society of England and Wales has published recommendations from its 21st Century Justice project, which it says offer a powerful vision for change to help narrow the justice gap. Research by the society shows that only 16% of adults believe the justice system treats everyone equally. Legal aid changes have left 90% of […]
Law Society finds strong support for legal industry in London, as ‘200 years’ tour draws to a close
Law Society research held to mark 200 years of the organisation has found strong support for the legal industry in London, with confidence in many areas of practice more pronounced in the capital than the rest of England and Wales. For the past six months, the Law Society has travelled across England and Wales to […]
In the age of AI and rising costs, NALP says paralegals are more relevant than ever
Today’s Media spoke to Amanda Hamilton, director and patron of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), about the evolving role of the paralegal and NALP’s role in the profession’s voluntary self-regulation. A recent survey measuring public perception of AI in the legal sector found that the public isn’t yet ready to fully trust the technology in […]
Law Society ‘supports SRA’s focus on core responsibilities’ following Axiom Ince review
The Law Society of England and Wales has announced that it supports the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) reprioritisation of work and the emphasis placed on investing in its core functions in the 2025-2026 business plan and budget consultation. The SRA’s consultation, launched in May, aims to address the shortcomings highlighted in the independent review of […]
L&C Mortgages joins OPDA to ‘drive digital approach’
L&C Mortgages has signed up to the Open Property Data Association (OPDA), citing the need for greater collaboration for homebuyers across the housing market. L&C is the UK’s largest fee-free mortgage broker and works with over 100 lenders to offer a wide choice of mortgage products from a single platform. Customers can receive advice online […]
HMLR online workshop aims to reduce common mistakes in new build applications
HMLR is hosting a 90-minute online workshop on 8 July to help property professionals avoid common mistakes in new build applications. The interactive workshop, which will be held on Microsoft Teams, ‘is ideal for professionals who regularly lodge applications with HMLR’, the organisation said. The statement continued: “With new builds set to rocket, you’ve been […]
National leasehold campaigners receive OBEs in King’s Birthday Honours list
The founders of the National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) have been awarded OBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours list in recognition of their services to housing and leaseholders. Katie Kendrick, Cath Williams and Jo Darbyshire launched the NLC in 2017 after finding themselves ‘trapped by unfair and extortionate leasehold arrangements’. Frustrated by escalating ground rents, ‘onerous […]
‘Urgent need’ for enhanced accountability and responsiveness when it comes to complaints – LSCP
There is an ‘urgent need’ for enhanced accountability and responsiveness across the legal services sector when it comes to providing clients with both information about redress and complaint, and handling complaints about services provided. A survey conducted by the Legal Services Consumer Panel (LCSP) has identified 46% of the Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) investigations found poor […]
SLC backs digital signatures, but calls for a re-think on TR1
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has backed the use of digital signatures during the conveyancing process, but is calling on HM Land Registry to amend its position on the TR1 process. In a position statement issued this week, SLC said it ‘fully supports the adoption and use of digital signatures, including Qualified Electronic Signatures […]
A third of homeowners cite stress and house prices as biggest obstacles to moving
Homeowners believe stress is as big an obstacle to moving as house prices, according to research from the HomeOwners Allowance. In the poll of 2,000 UK adults, house prices outpacing wage growth and the stress of a moving process ‘in dire need of reform’ came out joint top of reasons to stay put, with both […]
Law Society says Invest 2035 could be a ‘game changer’ for legal sector
Richard Atkinson, the president of the Law Society of England and Wales, says the government’s Invest 2035 industrial strategy has the potential to be ‘a game-changer for the UK economy and the legal sector’. The UK’s modern industrial strategy, announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves at the end of last year and set to be launched […]
How Pavilion Row has elevated client service and compliance with Osprey Approach
Pavilion Row is a well-established private client legal practice specialising in Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Estate Administration. For almost a decade, the Sheffield-based firm has reaped the benefits of utilising Osprey Approach’s case management system, including helping the firm provide a personalised experience for its clients. Nicola Houston, operations director, shares with Emma Atwell, client […]
Former journalist appointed as new Law Society deputy vice president
Former journalist Dana Denis-Smith OBE has been elected as the new deputy vice president of the Law Society of England and Wales, taking office from October 2025. Denis-Smith OBE spent a decade as a journalist before qualifying as a solicitor with Linklaters and is currently CEO of Obelisk Support, a legal services provider offering flexible legal solutions. She is […]
Older homeowners support digital homebuying, OPDA research finds
An OPDA survey of 5,000 homebuyers and sellers has found strong support for digitising the homebuying process amongst older movers, with a large majority of buyers aged 65 and over agreeing it’s a good idea. The Censuswide survey of people who had bought or sold a property within the last five years found that 70% […]
LSB consultation risks ‘undervaluing’ work of regulators on ethics
Placing further ‘onerous duties on frontline regulators that will deliver little more than what is currently in place‘ was one of the comments from CILEX in response to the Legal Services Board’s ‘Upholding Professional Ethical Duties’ consultation which closed last week. Now The Law Society of England and Wales have weighed in on the consultation […]