The shape of things to come: the Planning Act 2008 seeks to streamline and fine tune the planning application process, but whether it will strike the correct balance of expediting major infrastructure projects while addressing the concerns of third parties remains to be seen, say Giles Ferin and Marco Mauro
Law firms are often guilty of only considering their reputation when a crisis hits but, given the current climate and the forthcoming Legal Services Act, they should have a contingency plan in place to deal with any issues effectively, says James Boyd-Wallis
Law firms are increasingly embracing the internet as a way of accessing a variety of popular legal applications, but what are the benefits – and drawbacks – of this kind of technology, asks Dominic Cullis
Jane Ching examines Lord Hunt's recommendations on education, qualification and CPD, and his focus on competence as a pre-requisite for being professionally fit
The legal disciplinary partnership model is just as relevant to legal aid firms as it is to those undertaking solely privately funded work, argues Penny Owston
Successful alternative business structures will be those likely to follow the same ethical and professional approach as traditional law firms, says Nick Denys
