Legal profession

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on the legal profession. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
06.06.2013	Mediation and other alternatives to court
	Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is the collective term for settling civil disputes with the help of an independent third party and without the need for a formal court hearing. Alternatives to litigation include: mediation, ombudsmen schemes and arbitration. In relevant circumstances, ADR schemes may offer certain advantages over going to court in that they can be more flexible, quicker, less stressful and less expensive.
16.05.2013	Legal help: where to go and how to pay
	This note sets out information about where to seek legal help or advice in England and Wales.
06.03.2013	Complaints against solicitors and other lawyers
	The Legal Ombudsman deals with complaints against all lawyers, including solicitors, registered in England and Wales. Anyone who is dissatisfied with the standard of service received from their lawyer should complain, in the first instance, to the lawyer concerned. If the matter cannot be resolved in this way, then a complaint may be made to the Legal Ombudsman.
16.01.2013	Referral fees in personal injury claims
	Provisions in the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, which are due to come into force in April 2013, will ban referral fees in personal injury cases. When implemented, the new provisions will prohibit the payment and receipt of referral fees by making it a regulatory offence (rather than a criminal offence) to pay or receive referral fees, in specified types of legal business.
26.04.2012	Claims management companies
	This Note describes the regulatory framework which applies to claims management companies.

Research Papers

Date	Description
09.01.2013	Crime and Courts Bill [HL]
	The Bill would establish a new National Crime Agency and make a number of changes to the administration of justice. It also deals with the law of self defence as it applies to householders defending themselves from intruders; makes changes to community sentences and to immigration appeal rights; and introduces a new drug driving offence.
09.08.2007	The Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill Bill 130 of 2006-07
11.07.2007	Legal Services Bill [HL] Committee Stage Report
29.05.2007	Legal Services Bill [HL] Bill 108 of 2006-07
09.12.2005	The Criminal Defence Service Bill (HL) (Bill 64 of 2005-06).

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
07.03.2012	Constitution Select Committee (HL) twenty-fifth report on Judicial Appointments.
	Constitution Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
31.01.2011	Appointment of the Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
	Justice Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
06.02.2012	CITIZENS ADVICE SCOTLAND FAIR EMPLOYMENT REPORT
	That this House welcomes the Fair Employment report from Citizens Advice Scotland, showing the effects of the recession on employment practices in Scotland; notes with concern the report's ...
18.10.2011	ALTERNATIVE BUSINESS STRUCTURES
	That this House recognises the concerns of the Solicitor Sole Practitioners Group, which represents a third of the total number of law firms in England and Wales, regarding the introduction ...
29.06.2011	SECTION 708 (G) OF THE BAR STANDARDS CODE
	That this House notes that Section 708 (g) of the Bar Standards Code states that barristers must not make statements or ask questions which are merely scandalous or intended or calculated ...
31.03.2011	LAW SOCIETY AND CLOSURE OF LAW FIRMS
	That this House questions the fairness of the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority in the way in which they intervene to close law firms under supervision; recognises ...
11.01.2011	CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX CLOSURES
	That this House applauds the magnificent work carried out by local citizens advice bureaux, their staff and volunteers throughout the UK who unstintingly give support and free advice ...

Lords Library Notes

Date	Description
24.05.2012	Crime and Courts Bill (HL Bill 4 of 2012-13)
	The Crime and Courts Bill would establish a new National Crime Agency to combat organised crime, and contains provisions for reforms of the courts system (including judicial appointments and to allow broadcasting of certain court proceedings) as well as provisions on immigration, drug driving and community sentencing. This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the Bill's second reading in the House of Lords.