Property lawyers may have little option but to join the Conveyancing Quality Scheme, but the real challenge is to offer a truly professional service not only to clients but also to their counterpart in a transaction, says John Outram
The government proudly ratcheted its fights against compensation culture and rising insurance costs on 9 September by announcing a ban on referral fees. The majority of the profession approved, it seemed. But will the ban truly address a real issue or is it a spectacular own goal for the profession? We asked five stakeholders for their reactions to the news
Litigants agreeing on part 36 offers before starting proceedings often include terms about their respective costs pre-litigation – but it's not always that simple, says Francesca Kaye
Despite the limits to the scope of the unfair contract terms regulations set by the Supreme Court in the bank charges case, the courts remain prepared to take a supportive approach in consumer credit claims. Bryan Nott reports
The LPC equips young lawyers for the commercial world but leaves them without fully developed family law skills, says Marilyn Stowe as she despairs of her potential trainees
The Court of Appeal's ruling on the foreseeability of risk may represent a softening of the position in favour of defendants in health and safety prosecutions, but at least it provides much-needed clarification of the law, say Gareth McManus and Mark Balysz
