The start of the New Year saw a flurry of alternative business structure (ABS) approvals. Within a 24 hour period the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) authorised seven new ABSs, bringing its total count to over 60.

By the start of 2014, the Legal Services Board (LSB) expects to have made a recommendation to the Lord Chancellor about the regulation of Will writing and estate administration, it said in its draft business plan for the year, published for consultation last week.

As Christmas approaches and we begin to think of turkey and other delights, I am reminded of the case of Bernard Matthews, the British poultry producer, whose end-of-life wishes were defeated by French law. This high-profile case highlights the importance of taking care of every detail regarding your estate.

The Law Society, in principle, supported the Legal Services Board's (LSB) decision to regulate Will writing and estate administration as it would bring greater protection to customers, it said recently in response to the LSB consultation.

The Legal Services Board (LSB) last month released its final baseline report on the impacts of change in the legal services market over the past six years leading to the implementation of the Alternative Business Structure (ABS) regime.

Forty applications for Alternative Business Structure (ABS) licenses reached the formal decision phase in the Solicitors Regulation Authority's (SRA) approval process between April and September this year, according to statistics.

The Legal Ombudsman (LeO), for the time being, will not accept complaints from third parties – that is individuals who are not the lawyer’s direct client. This is due to concerns that it is difficult to define which third-party cases should be included and which should be left out of the settlement process. Additional worries included the impact on LeO charges and workload and the negative Scottish track record in accepting third-party complaints.

Quality is the main thing clients want from their legal services providers, with the cost sinking in priority when consumers receive the right service and advice, new research has found.

Conveyancing Direct was one of four conveyancing businesses awarded an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) licence by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) in October. Red Legal, Advantage Property Lawyers (APL) and Runnett & Co were the other three licensed by the CLC last month. The latest entry, Vickery Conveyancing, which received ABS status on 7 November, brings the total ABS licences issued by the CLC to fourteen.