On April 1 cuts of £350 million from the legal aid budget of £2.1 billion came into effect.

http://gclaw.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/fourth-pillar-of-the-welfare-state/

The names of 1,617 law firms and barristers who have been the subject of a formal decision by the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) are now in the public domain. 

http://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/more-1600-law-firms-barristers-now-legal-ombudsmans-complaints-list

Annual snapshot shows solicitor numbers in a dip

http://www.solicitorsjournal.com/news/property/conveyancing/quarter-conveyancing-firms-hit-negligence-claims  

Forensic accounting is now big business and a major part of litigation. Could this lead to merged legal and accountancy firms? 

http://www.thelawyer.com/practice-areas/litigation-/-dispute-resolution/in-for-the-count/3003428.article

There is a widespread desire to move away from the hourly rate model, according to a survey of in-house lawyers that found them wanting their external law firms to share risk.

http://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/time-nearly-hourly-billing-in-house-lawyers-ask-firms-share-risk

myBARRISTER, owned and created by former Shearman & Sterling partner Ronald DeKoven, will allow direct access to the Bar through a centralised portal of barristers.

http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/2260327/online-direct-access-bar-portal-to-go-live-with-80plus-barristers-on-board

The government’s latest consultation paper on legal aid makes grim reading for any solicitor who undertakes criminal defence work and, indeed, for many providers of other legally aided work. 

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/blogs/blogs/news-blogs/criminal-legal-aid-what-now

One in five sole practices have declining workloads. Finding new business is the biggest challenge for small firms and sole practices, a survey has found. 

http://www.solicitorsjournal.com/news/management/business-development/finding-new-business-biggest-challenge-small-firms-say

Law firms don’t get rich advising on the demise of other law firms. 

http://www.thelawyer.com/news-and-analysis/market-analysis/notebook/fees-tight-on-law-firm-administrations/3003638.article

Nearly one in three civil legal aid lawyers consider themselves at risk of redundancy, according to a survey on the effect of the legal aid reforms on the profession.

http://www.solicitorsjournal.com/news/hot-picks/legal-aid-bill/thirty-cent-legal-aid-lawyers-risk-redundancy