Who are our competitors – and which worry us?

Posted by Justin on Dec 30, 2010 in Abaddons Musings, communitarianism, conveyancing, lawyers, legal system, local, professionals, risk, small towns, Tenterden, Weald | 0 comments As “High Street” solicitors, who tend to handle local work for local people, it might be thought that our main competitors are other, similar “High Street” solicitors – I think notAlthough there is competition between us and other local firms, we do not see them as an existential threat (oooh! Big words!) On the whole, they tend to have the same philosophy of...
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New conveyancing protocol

Posted by Justin on Dec 22, 2010 in Abaddons Musings, conveyancing, cynicism, lawyers, legal system, suits | 0 comments According to Clutton Cox, they were one of only 12 firms to respond to the consultation by the Law Society on its new conveyancing protocol: http://goo.gl/uhpYhAs I also responded, that means only 10 others throughout the country did – what a disappointmentWhat is also disappointing is that the Law Society has not included in the scheme a requirement for member firms to (for instance)...
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Turmoil for the legal profession

Posted by Justin on Dec 21, 2010 in Abaddons Musings, conveyancing, lawyers, legal system, professionals, risk | 0 comments The legal profession is undergoing a period of change and review more far-reaching than anything it has experienced before. The following consultations (which will lead to change) and already decided changes are under way (thanks to Rob Hailstone of the Bold Group for drawing all this together) -SRA Consultations: The new SRA Handbook: This consultation is the last opportunity for comments on...
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Quality standards?

Posted by Justin on Nov 21, 2010 in Abaddons Musings, conveyancing, CPD, cynicism, estate agents, lawyers, legal system, professionals, risk | 1 comment Research by the Consumer Panel – which advises the Legal Services Board, the regulator of lawyers – finds that “consumers assume all lawyers are technically competent and are subject to more regulatory controls than is the case. This means that quality considerations do not strongly influence consumers’ choice of lawyers and people erroneously consider that all legal...
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Another HomeMove forum query

Posted by Justin on Jun 8, 2010 in Abaddons Musings, conveyancing | 0 comments In case it is of general interest, here is another query, and my reply, on the homemove.co.uk legal forumThe query:Please help! conversion of house to flats and existing mortgage lender rulesHello,I’m tied in for 2 years into existing 230k mortgage on a house valued at 500k. Repayment penalty of 5%. That I’ve come to terms with.I am getting planning permission to make into two flats...
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Online advice

Posted by Justin on Jun 4, 2010 in Abaddons Musings, conveyancing, lawyers, legal system | 0 comments I contribute to an online advice forum at http://www.homemove.co.uk A query that (to me, at least) was quite interesting cropped up today, regarding a breach of a restrictive covenant. The query itself was: “We purchased a converted barn 2 years ago and the developer (who also lived next door) suggested that we get a garden room extension when I said I wouldn’t buy it as I wanted...
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