Features and Opinion – Page 4

Feature

A tall order

2017-04-11T00:00:00Z

Being served with a production order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 can be a frightening experience. Paul Bennett explains how your firm can get prepared, and respond effectively and lawfully if you’re served 

Feature

All above board

2016-08-02T00:00:00Z

The SRA Code of Conduct obliges law firms to ensure their fees are transparent to their clients. Firms must not be seen to generate secret profits. Jason Mitchell looks at how to maintain compliance

Feature

Helping handbook?

2016-08-02T00:00:00Z

In June, the Solicitors Regulation Authority launched a consultation on proposed changes to the SRA Handbook. But are the changes the right ones? And how could they affect firms and their leaders? Paul Bennett, Melanie O’Brien, Matt Howgate and Sarah Charlton consider

Feature

The final countdown

2016-05-06T11:33:00Z

The changes to continuing professional development will be mandatory from 1 November 2016. Nicola Jones and Jane Green-Armytage look at how firms are responding, and the pros and cons of adapting the old regime versus embracing a competency-based approach

Feature

A gentle nudge

2016-05-06T11:30:00Z

Why don’t most compliance programmes work in practice? Because the traditional theory on which they are based doesn’t take into account how people really behave. Barry Vitou looks at what we can learn from a more recent approach: nudge theory

Feature

Much obliged

2016-02-10T10:33:00Z

Outcomes-focused regulation was intended to offer firms greater flexibility, but many now cite compliance obligations as a significant burden. Leading commentators and practitioners talk to Lucy Trevelyan about trends in regulation, and offer their top tips for effective compliance.

Feature

Reform of financial management regulation

2015-10-27T16:16:00Z

Crispin Passmore explains how the SRA intends to reform how it regulates financial management in response to changes in consumer and market behaviours 

Feature

Is it a breach or isn’t it?

2015-10-27T15:29:00Z

Jo Morris discusses the difficulties faced by compliance officers and provides a taster of her session at the LMS finance and business conference on 17 November

Feature

Tips for effective file management and minimising risk exposure

2015-10-27T11:45:00Z

Mark Carver provides his top tips for managing client files and minimising risk exposure

Feature

Under orders

2015-08-19T18:32:00Z

Paul Bennett explains how law firms should respond to a production order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Feature

On auto-pilot?

2015-08-04T00:00:00Z

Pensions auto-enrolment has been in force for over three years, but the implementation date for many smaller firms is this October. Are you ready? Zoe Bodycote provides a beginner’s guide to the scheme and the steps you need to take

Feature

After hours

2015-05-14T15:48:00Z

The changes to solicitors’ CPD, from an hours-based to a competency-based regime, are now well under way. Nicola Jones outlines the practicalities of compliance with the new system, and the benefits it can bring for firms and the legal sector

Feature

Listen up

2015-02-15T20:31:00Z

In the second of an occasional series on the business benefits of effective compliance, Tracey Calvert looks at how good complaints-handling can help you make continuous improvements to your business, and how you can achieve this in practice

Feature

Under cover

2015-02-15T19:29:00Z

After a year when much-heralded proposals to reform the professional indemnity insurance market flared briefly before being snuffed out, will 2015 see any significant changes in the renewal process? Grania Langdon-Down reports

Feature

Live and learn

2014-11-11T00:00:00Z

The shift from hours-based CPD to competence to practice, announced in May this year, presents an important opportunity for firms to reassess their learning strategy and ensure it contributes to their business needs. Nicola Jones explains

Feature

Officer politics

2014-08-12T00:00:00Z

Pearl Moses looks back at three years of outcomes-focused regulation and two years of the compliance officer regime, and asks what lessons we can learn to ensure compliance in changing times

Feature

The flip side

2014-05-07T00:00:00Z

It can sometimes feel as though the regulatory obligations imposed upon lawyers only continue to grow. But, as Michelle Garlick and Joanne Smith assert, active compliance can also bring a raft of benefits to your firm

Feature

Better safe…

2014-02-12T00:00:00Z

The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s focus on financial stability is part of a wider change to the regulatory environment, and what compliance means in practice. George Bull explains how to assess your firm against the regulator’s risk indicators

Feature

Under the microscope

2013-11-12T00:00:00Z

For the busy manager of a law firm, few things cause more upset than the unwelcome news that the Forensic Investigation Unit is planning to visit. So what should you expect if it happens to you? Richard Lane explains

Feature

Open season

2013-08-13T00:00:00Z

Deregulation has changed the legal services market forever. Barry Wilkinson looks at the lessons to be learnt from other deregulated markets, and how law firms can apply those lessons to make sure they succeed