Platform economy breaks into the legal profession by pooling lawyers with different specializations into a simple user-friendly platform, consolidating the lower-tier supply side of the legal market and generating economy of scale. This paper is the very first empirical piece looking into China’s online legal service portals. It is found that, the intermediary functions of the portals as the “matchmaker” between the supply and thedemand side are often commingled with certain substantive legal services, which cannot be easily unbundled from each other. Given the grand information asymmetry…
Potential legal and regulatory reform in Nigeria?
We are delighted that the Nigerian Bar Association has expressed interest in the ICLR network and will be sending representation to the Singapore conference. Although the NBA is only responsible for part of the system of regulating lawyers at present, it has taken a leadership role in promoting the adoption of a major overhaul of…
SRA consultation – Looking to the future: phase two of our Handbook reforms
Following the SRA’s ‘Looking to the future‘ consultation in summer 2016, they are now consulting on further changes to their Handbook and their proposed revised Enforcement Strategy. This consultation also includes the transitional arrangements for the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). Through the Looking to the future programme, the SRA are: simplifying regulations…
ICLR 2017 – Panel: Effective New Regulatory Responses to Complaints
A synopsis of panel session 5, which takes place on 6 October at ICLR Singapore, kindly provided by the session’s moderator, Susan Saab Fortney – Professor and Associate Dean for Research, Texas A & M University School of Law. Conference materials will be made available to ICLR.net members after the conference. The session examines new regulatory…
What We Know and Need to Know About Global Lawyer Regulation
This article is one of a series addressing the American Bar Association’s Commission on the Future of Legal Services, and is intended to provide a foundation for policymakers interested in global lawyer regulation. Rather than suggest the best approach to regulating global lawyering and lawyers, however, the article instead takes aim at developing a wish-list…
ICLR 2017 – Panel: “Risk Based Approach to Regulation”
A synopsis of panel session 8, which takes place on 6 October at ICLR Singapore, kindly provided by the session’s moderator, Victoria Rees. Conference materials will be made available to ICLR.net members after the conference. Moderator: Victoria Rees, Director of Professional Responsibility, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, Canada Panelists: Scott MacLean, Acting Executive Director, Investigations, Office…
Focus on Ireland: Legal Services Act 2015 Briefing
Background to the Act In Ireland the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 has been enacted primarily to establish a new Legal Services Regulatory Authority for all legal practitioners, update the legal costs system and allow possible future introduction of new business structures for the provision of legal services, including legal partnerships (solicitors and barristers), multi-disciplinary…
Trust and the market: Rethinking regulation
London, United Kingdom | 15 July 2016 In a fast-changing marketplace, how do regulators build public confidence and balance public protection with the need to support an open competitive market that provides high-quality, affordable services? Trust and the market: Rethinking regulation addresses this question. Chaired by broadcast journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, experts from several sectors share…
Disruptive Innovations in Legal Services
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) held a discussion on protecting and promoting competition in response to disruptive innovations in legal services. It observed that innovation brings new types of competition and new pressures on the regulatory framework, including on professional exclusivity, entry restrictions and self-regulation. Read more in the competition area of…
Transforming Regulation and Governance in the Public Interest
The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society is building a new model of regulating legal services as part of its strategic plan for 2013-2016. This paper, Transforming Regulation and Governance in the Public Interest, summarizes the results of extensive research in support of this work. Transforming Regulation