The Law Society Gazette

The Budget is always of both personal and professional interest to solicitors. Lawyers pay taxes and run businesses too.This was the case even more so this year, as the profession waited to hear whether law firms would be specifically targeted to help fund the justice system and the good news came with regards to what wasn't in it. Legal aid fee rates and the means test were on the wishlist sent by the Law Society to chancellor John Healey. But expectations were not high, and there is some devil in the detail. And what of clients? Capital gains tax, inheritance tax, pensions and property were all in the chancellor’s sights, with implications for estate planning, wills, trusts and wealth transfers. LLPs, meanwhile, awaited clarity on their statuses, new sector levies and other potential revenue-raising measures.

As trillions of pounds pass from one generation to the next, private client lawyers are playing an increasingly important role in helping families manage wealth, expectations and potential conflict. In this episode, Clare Stirzaker of Boodle Hatfield and Oliver Embley of Wedlake Bell discuss the "great wealth transfer", examining succession planning, family governance, philanthropy, tax and inheritance disputes, and what these trends mean for the future of private wealth advice.

In this episode we are joined by Rachel Rothwell, editor of Litigation Funding magazine, to examine a sector facing one of the most turbulent periods in its history. From the continuing fallout of the PACCAR ruling and delays to promised legislation, to growing political scrutiny and the prospect of formal regulation, litigation funders are feeling the heat. Rachel explains how these developments are reshaping the market, and what they mean for claimant law firms and investors. How can confidence be restored in a maturing industry that has become a staple of the dispute resolution landscape?

Women now make up the majority of new entrants to the solicitors’ profession, yet remain underrepresented in its most senior and influential roles. In this episode of the Law Society Gazette podcast, Ed Reyes is joined by Professor Rosemary Auchmuty and Alison Eddy of Irwin Mitchell, to examine whether law firms are still failing women, and what meaningful change would require. From the profession’s male-designed structures and the persistence of long-hours culture, to flexible working, caring responsibilities, leadership, targets and accountability, the discussion asks whether progress on representation is enough if the route to power remains uneven.

Private equity has poured more than a whopping £1bn into UK legal services, but has it really transformed the profession? Paul Rogerson is joined by Jeff Zindani and Michael Cross to discuss where the money is going, why some firms attract investment while others do not, and what consolidation, AI and changing regulation has meant and could mean for the future of law firms.