Latest News

Stories in Full

House prices fall one per cent in June

Average house prices in England and Wales fell one per cent in June, taking the average price to  £180,781, according to the latest figures from Land Registry.

Annual house price growth shows a decline for the tenth consecutive month, with an increase of 0.1 per cent.

The most up-to-date figures available show that during April 2008 the number of completed house sales fell by 39 per cent to 57,831 from 95,223 in April 2007.

House prices in London fell by 2.5 per cent in June – more than any other region in England and Wales, taking the average London house price to £345,136. The North East bucked the downward trend being the only region to experience growth, with a monthly increase of 4.1 per cent.

For more information and to view the latest statistical release, visit the House Prices section.

Details

(Posted: 28-07-2008)

Back to top

TLS survey: Implementing Money Laundering Regulations

As the first anniversary of the launch of the Law Society's anti-money laundering practice note draws near, the Law Society is conducting a monitoring project to see how solicitors' practices are implementing the regulations.

The aim of the monitoring project is to ascertain which parts of the regulations are working well and which parts are not. The Law Society wants to understand if the implementation difficulties faced by solicitors require amendments to the regulations or if there are other ways that compliance can be made easier.

From an initial survey conducted through the Law Society's newsletter, Professional Update, in June, respondents said that, as a profession, they are taking concerted steps to implement the new regulations. Of those who responded to the survey:

• 95 per cent updated their policies and procedures within six months of the new regulations coming into force;
• 57 per cent said that identifying non-face-to-face clients causes difficulty;
• 67 per cent of respondents said they did not use the reliance provisions designed to make compliance easier; and
• many were unconvinced that the risk-based approach decreased their compliance burden.

(Posted: 31-07-2008)

Back to top

Law Society transfers rule making powers to the SRA

The Law Society today announced that its Council  has approved the delegation of its rule making powers to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Des Hudson, Law Society chief executive, said: "The delegation of powers is an important completion of our work in the public interest in ensuring a proper separation of regulatory and representational work."

This means that the representative Law Society can continue to develop its role supporting solicitors at a time of significant change and a highly challenging legal market place.

The Council always made it clear that it would fully delegate powers to the SRA once it had the power to do so. These powers were received in May, and the Council, this week, exercised them.

Mr Hudson said: "The Law Society has now fully complied with its duties under both the spirit and the letter of the Legal Services Act [2007] and has acted swiftly in the public interest at a very early stage. It means that the profession's rules are now made by a body with a duty to act in the public interest, rather than one, which also has a representational role, and the Society is pleased that it has completed this long-standing piece of work."

The Law Society will shortly issue further information and advice about the implications of the first set of rules to be made by the SRA under this power.

Details

(Posted: 17-07-2008)

Back to top

TLS Bookshop: Key property titles now available

Selected key property and construction titles published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors are now available to buy from our bookshop. Order online or call 0870 850 1422. Titles include the following:

• Case in Point – Construction Claims
• Case in Point – Easements and Other Rights
• Covenants Affecting Land: A Practical Guide
• Domestic Energy Assessor's Handbook
• The Housing Act 2004 and Residential Lettings: A Practical Guide

(Posted: 21-07-2008)

Back to top

New revolution for house building

A scheme to deliver more affordable homes for young families and first-time buyers is being set out by Housing Minister Iain Wright.

Under a new radical amendment to the Housing and Regeneration Bill being debated in Parliament, new community land trusts (CLTs) will be able to cut the cost of getting on the housing ladder as buyers will only pay for the building, not the land, of a property.

CLTs put communities in the centre stage in agreeing how land should be developed, including building more affordable homes, as local residents and businesses participate in and take responsibility for planning and delivering development schemes.

Housing Minister Iain Wright said: "We have to constantly look at new ways to meet the long-term demand for more homes. Community land trusts put local communities at the centre stage of delivering the homes our first-time buyers and young families desperately need.

"They provide an opportunity to give people the practical tools to solve the problem of affordable housing in a way that is right for the community."

The new measure is part of the next steps in the government's series of further measures and reforms designed to help alleviate the current challenges in the housing market and to support the vital delivery of more homes over the long-term. It is also a big feature of the government's drive to deliver a fundamental shift in power, influence and responsibility into the hands of communities and citizens.

A CLT is an independent trust that owns or controls the land and facilities, but not the property, for the benefit of the community.

Details

(Posted: 21-07-2008)

Back to top

Jack Straw appoints new Legal Services Board

The first nine members of the Legal Services Board were appointed by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw.

The board was set up by the Legal Services Act 2007 to be a single independent oversight regulator of legal services to replace the current oversight regulators.

The new members, who will together bring experience in consumer issues, regulatory experience, the legal sector and public service, will formally take up post on 1 September 2008 for a three-year period, following consultation with the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.

Jack Straw said: "Increasing public confidence in the justice system is at the heart of the legal services reform programme.

"Establishing a new Legal Services Board is another important step towards raising the standards and simplifying regulation in the legal services sector. The Legal Services Board has an important remit as a new independent and publicly accountable body.

"The board members bring with them a wealth of experience of service delivery which will be invaluable in their task to bring top quality legal services to the public."

David Edmonds, the first chair of the board, said: "I am looking forward to working with the board members and have every confidence that, together, we will further enhance the important work that needs to be done to ensure high quality services are delivered to people using legal services."

The members include the following:

• Terence Connor
  Mr Connor has been a non-executive director at the Financial Services Compensation Scheme since 2005 and a non-executive director of New Star Private Equity Investment Trust plc. He was also a non-executive director of Which Ltd for six years. He began his city career as a media analyst for James Capel & Co and Smith New Court. He joined the Mirror Group plc in 1993 and became an executive director as part of the team appointed to rebuild the company.
• Stephen Green
  Mr Green is the recently retired chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police, who chaired a number of Boards, including the Nottinghamshire Criminal Justice Board. He was awarded the Queens Police Medal for services to Policing in 2001.
• Rosemary Martin
  Until recently General Counsel at Reuters and formerly a partner at Rowe and Maw, now Ms Martin is chief executive of the Practical Law Company, an innovative new business providing services to legal providers.
• Bill Moyes
  Mr Moyes was appointed executive chairman of Monitor, the independent regulator of the NHS Foundation Trusts in December 2003. He is also Monitor's accounting officer. He was director general of the British Retail Consortium from 2000 to 2003 and head of the infrastructure investments department at the Bank of Scotland. He joined the British Linen Bank (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank of Scotland) in 1994. Before that he held a variety of posts in the Scottish Office and Whitehall.
• Michael Napier, QC, CBE
  Mr Napiers is a solicitor and the senior partner of national law firm Irwin Mitchell. He is the attorney general's pro bono envoy, was a founding member of the Civil Justice Council and was president of the Law Society of England & Wales in 2000. He is a bencher of Gray's Inn. He joined Irwin Mitchell in 1972 (then three partners, now 110 partners and more than 1,800 people in seven cities) and has been a senior partner since 1983. Initially a full time advocate in crime, mental health and employment law, he later became a specialist in litigation, particularly in personal injury. From 1985 to 1994 he was joint senior partner of Pannone Napier, the international law firm that pioneered multi-party litigation in the UK.
• Barbara Saunders, OBE
  Ms Saunders is an independent consumer consultant with experience of public policy in the UK and European Union. She is currently a member of the Board of Passenger Focus, the Rail Passengers Council, and a member of the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. She has held a number of non-executive positions and previously chaired the Financial Services Consumer panel and Insurance Ombudsman Bureau and was a lay member of the Law Society Professional Standards Appeal Panel.
• Nicole Smith
  Ms Smith is a panel chair at the Judicial Appointments Commission, and until very recently deputy chief executive at the Electoral Commission, following an earlier career at the Home Office, the Constitution Unit and the Royal National Institute for the Blind. She brings non-executive experience from a Housing Association, as a school governor and as chair of the Westminster Volunteer Bureau.
• Andrew Whittaker
  Mr Whittaker serves as general counsel to the Board at the Financial Services Authority (FSA), where he provides legal advice to the FSA Board and its top management.  He was appointed general counsel in April 2000 after three years as deputy general counsel, leading FSA's input into the Financial Services and Markets Act. In addition to acting as a lawyer, he has spent part of his regulatory career as a frontline supervisor of investment markets, and as a policymaker.
• David Wolfe
  Mr Wolfe has been a barrister since 1992 and is a founder member of Matrix Chambers. His early practice included general common law and criminal law, but he now specialises in public law, particularly judicial review and challenges to the decisions of government, regulators, local authorities, schools and health bodies. His other current roles include chair of special educational needs and disability tribunal and as a Legal Services Commissioner. He was formerly a county councillor in Cambridgeshire and a graduate representative on the Cambridge University Senate.

(Posted: 17-07-2008)

Back to top

Facing the housing challenge - action today, innovation for tomorrow

A series of further measures and reforms designed to help alleviate the current challenges in the housing market and to support the vital delivery of more homes over the long-term, are being announced today by Housing Minister Caroline Flint.

The measures are part of a new update, published today, on progress to delivering more homes, helping first time buyers, supporting existing home owners, assisting the industry which is currently facing tougher conditions, and ensuring that the right foundations are in place for a recovery in new build starts.

Housing Minister Caroline Flint said: "The package being announced today will both help people facing difficulties right now, and lay the foundations to help meet the long term housing needs of the country.

"That means being ambitious, but also practical and realistic, acknowledging not only the difficulties faced by individuals and families, but for those who work in the house building industry.

"We are determined to continue to do everything possible to promote long-term stability and fairness in the housing market. The international credit crunch has created significant challenges not just for the UK housing market, but in other parts of Europe and the United States.

"However, the long term need to provide more homes has not gone away. We have a growing and ageing population and will only see worsening affordability unless we increase housing supply."
The measures include:

• A new scheme to support first time buyers into affordable home ownership by renting first and buying later. Under the scheme, eligible households earning £60,000 a year or less will to able to rent a new home at a discounted rate for a period of two to three years. They will have the option to buy a part share in the home. The affordable rent, which will be 80 per cent of the market rent or less, will enable the household to save for a deposit to buy the share in the home. The new pilot scheme, called Rent to Home buy, is designed to give more choice and flexibility to first time buyers, and is part of the Government's low cost home ownership schemes.
• New partnerships between the public and private sector that will put councils back at the centre stage of providing homes. The first 4 Local Housing Companies will be announced today, in Barking and Dagenham, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Manchester. Under this new partnership between councils and the private sector, councils put forward their surplus land into the Local Housing Company and have a full part in agreeing the development, which must include at least 50 per cent affordable homes. In return, private sector partners, provide the equivalent investment and homes and skills needed to build the homes.
• New proposals to deliver up to 75,000 homes in 20 more towns and cities, with £100 million into these areas for the schools, hospitals and other facilities needed to support homes. The councils in these areas of high demand, from Northumberland to Cornwall, have been selected as New Growth Points and have pledged to increase the number of homes in their local areas by up 20 per cent by 2016, delivering a total of up to 75,000 extra homes.
• Allocating the first tranche of a £510 million funding pot to reward councils who are working to bring land forward for development, helping to provide more homes and give the house building industry greater certainty that suitable land will be available when the market picks up. The Housing and Planning Delivery Grant is a direct incentive for councils who are taking action to meet the housing needs in their areas and rewards those putting plans and land allocations in place.
• Confirming that more funding, beyond the £200 million already allocated to buy unsold stock from house builders for affordable homes, could be made available, should the properties by in the right place, at the right price, and offering good standards. The Government believes this is the right approach rather than setting an arbitrary cap on the figure, to avoid the purchase of inappropriate properties. The Housing Corporation is now in discussion with many of the major house builders to discuss options for bringing unsold homes into the affordable housing sector.
• New plans to work with local authorities and housing associations to examine proposals for mortgage rescue schemes and the wider role they could play in supporting home owners. Some councils, for example, are assisting housing households through an emergency hardship fund, usually in the form of loans, as part of their homelessness prevention work.
  The National Housing Advisory Service will shortly publish a new advice leaflet for home owners, pulling together all the up-to-date contact details of major national money, debt and legal advice agencies into one consumer friendly document. The leaflet will be distributed in August by local authorities, CAB, Shelter, and money advisers.

(Posted: 16-07-2008)

Back to top

Women in the City awards 2008

The Law Society and the Association of Women Solicitors are endorsing the Legal Services category in this year's Women in the City awards. Law Society members are encouraged to enter the awards which celebrate the achievements of women in the workplace.

To nominate yourself or a colleague, visit www.citywomen.co.uk.

(Posted: 11-07-2008)

Back to top

Official directory of solicitors: order your copy

The Law Society's Directory of Solicitors and Barristers 2008-2009 has just been published. It is uniquely compiled with information direct from solicitors' practising certificates, making it the most comprehensive and up-to-date directory of solicitors available. It provides you with information you can trust.

Order your copy online or call 0870 850 1422.

Details

(Posted: 11-07-2008)

Back to top

Putting anti-money laundering into practice

The Law Society's recent online survey found that solicitors acted swiftly to update their policies and procedures following the implementation of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007. The Society is committed to providing practical support to assist firms with compliance; however, the Society shares many practitioners' concerns at the increased regulatory burden imposed on solicitors. To fully represent your views, the Law Society will conduct further research in September to look at the costs and benefits of the new regulations and what further services are required to assist compliance.

Read the survey results

(Posted: 11-07-2008)

Back to top

VAT on legal aid: Law Society practice note

The Law Society has issued a new practice note on accounting for VAT on payments received under a legal aid contract or certificate. The practice note has been endorsed by HM Revenue and Customs.

The legal aid contracting system has evolved since monthly payment arrangements were first introduced by the Legal Services Commission.

The treatment of these regular payments, previously known as standard monthly payments, was changed by rule 21(2) of the Solicitors' Accounts Rules 1998 that came into effect on 1 May 2005. You must pay these into your office account, rather than choosing to pay them into either your client or office account.

To reflect rule 21(2) the Law Society has launched a simplified method of accounting for VAT, which is described in this practice note. This replaces the 2001 guidance.

The Law Society recommends that you refer to this online version to stay up-to-date with changes.

Read the practice note

(Posted: 30-11-1999)

Back to top

Research reveals public support for eco-town development by 5:1 ratio

New research released today by Housing Minister Caroline Flint reveals current support for the development of eco-towns among the general public outnumbers opposition by a ratio of 5:1. The research is published as the consultation process around the government's vision for the country's first eco-towns starts its next phase.

The YouGov survey findings reveal that 46 per cent of adults support the development of eco-towns in England, compared with nine per cent who oppose their development. When asked if they would support the development of an eco-town within five miles of their home, respondents still supported them by a ratio of 2:1 (34 per cent in support; 15 per cent opposed).

The results also underline public appreciation that more affordable housing needs to be built. Most people believe there is a shortage of affordable housing in their area, with three-fifths (58 per cent) saying there is very little or no affordable housing within five miles of their home.

Housing Minister Caroline Flint said: "Eco-towns are a new concept in England, and we know that they invoke strong opinions. That's why the consultation process is so important. However, our initial research among the general public  shows clear support in favour of eco-towns.

"This is an important consultation, but all voices should be heard, not just those who shout loudest. We recognise that some people do have concerns, but this research underlines the real recognition among the general public of the importance of building more affordable homes, and their support for the idea of an eco-town in the local area.

"We are running a rigorous process to decide which locations are  selected to go forward to the next stage. Proposals which do not  deliver real benefits and do not meet the highest possible standards will not get through our scrutiny. The process is open, transparent and inclusive and we will be testing every detail of the proposals with local  authorities, stakeholders and local communities themselves.

"We believe eco-towns can provide new, sustainable housing, which can bring tangible benefits and an improved quality of life for thousands of people. We are strongly urging anyone with an interest in our housing shortage, more sustainable living and climate change to give  us their views."

The government has been inviting preliminary views and comments on eco-towns since 3 April 2008, when it published its consultation paper Eco-towns: Living a greener future, which set out plans to take forward the eco-towns programme and named the shortlisted locations.

The second phase of the consultation will involve a series of roadshows taking place around the shortlisted sites to provide further information to the public and listen to their views; and a further three months of public consultation on top of the detailed sustainability assessment on the potential locations; and a draft planning policy statement on eco-towns.

The sustainability appraisal will provide greater detail on environmental sustainability and other issues around the locations and test them against reasonable alternatives. The planning policy statement will create the right framework for consideration of eco-town planning applications to ensure they meet the highest standards with the best public transport links and strong employment opportunities. Both documents will be published in July 2008.

The third stage (in the autumn of 2008) will see the publication of the final shortlist of locations with potential to be an eco-town. The final stage involves the consideration of planning applications for the individual schemes by local authorities.

Details

(Posted: 30-06-2008)

Back to top

TLS Gazette gets a new look

TLS Gazette: May 1996 seems a very long time ago. Tony Blair, for whom "things could only get better", was still a year away from capturing Downing Street. England was preparing to host the last European football championships but three.

That month was also significant for another reason. The issue of 9 May was the last time that the print edition of the Gazette unveiled a major redesign, though the overhaul was less far-reaching than the one landing on desks today.

Good design is no mere frippery – it cannot be an optional extra. Solicitors are busy people. Even the best-read publications are at most partially read, which is why we have to look the part as well as speak the part. Our old format was undoubtedly showing its age.

It is vital that this flagship publication is seen as contemporary, in touch and appealing to a wide audience in the rapidly evolving legal services market. This is doubly important online, where so many of our current and future readers will find the information they need.

In print, the new Law Society Gazette's slightly wider format incorporates creative and open layouts, with greater emphasis on the incisive use of typography, pull-outs and box copy, together with increased use of imagery. All are designed to engage and stimulate the reader. And we are now printed on 100 per cent recycled paper.

Online the Law Society Gazette is as radically changed, with all sections of the magazine represented. Most importantly, each area of Gazette coverage is now easily accessible – we have flattened the site's structure to make things easier to find, and the home page has everything we do right at the top of the page.

Changes to content you will notice in coming weeks include enhanced coverage of the City and a new In Business section, created to help practitioners run their firms better. And there will be many more.

We value your feedback – tell us what you think at gazette-editorial@lawsociety.org.uk.

Details

(Posted: 07-06-2008)

Back to top

Improvement in performance saves Law Society from further fine

The Legal Services Complaints Commissioner, Zahida Manzoor, CBE, announced her decision that the Law Society's complaints handling arms – the Legal Complaints Service (LCS) and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) – have not handled complaints in accordance with their Improvement Plan for the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. However, the Commissioner decided that she will not impose a financial penalty on the Law Society.

The Commissioner set the Law Society 13 targets relating to timeliness, quality and use of resources. The Law Society met six of these targets, exceeded two and missed five.

Speaking of her decision, the Commissioner said: "Whilst I would have liked to have announced that the LCS and SRA have met all the targets I set, I acknowledge that improvements have been made in most areas.

"I am particularly pleased that jointly LCS and SRA met their overall target to close 67 per cent of cases within three months (the LCS achieved 63 per cent and the SRA 77 per cent). Since I was appointed in 2004 and began setting targets, the number of older cases has reduced substantially, and complaints are being handled more quickly. This is good news for the consumer, and this upward trend needs to be sustained and improved upon."

The Commissioner sounded a warning that the lack of a fine should not be seen as a commendation: "My decision not to levy a penalty on the Law Society is not a cause for celebration, as the LCS and SRA have both missed a number of targets, and further effort is needed, especially on those targets measuring their adherence to quality processes."

This year has shown a clear divergence in performance between the LCS and SRA with the LCS performance levels meeting only three of its seven quality targets set, and the SRA performance being at targeted levels for five of its six quality targets.

Commenting on this the Commissioner stated: "The LCS still has a long way to go in terms of value for money, cost efficiency and quality. I have set individual targets for 2008/09 for the LCS and SRA. This means the LCS will have to be more effective in meeting the targets I have set as any targets exceeded by the SRA in future will be considered separately."

Regarding her decision not to impose a financial penalty, the Commissioner added: "When I announced my decision in November 2007 not to impose a penalty on the Law Society for LCS and SRA's failure to handle complaints in accordance with their Improvement Plan for 2006/07, I said I would be unlikely to extend the same latitude again.

"However, where there are failures against the targets for 2007/08, I have set these against the improvements that have been made. For example, the Law Society achieved 84.4 per cent against a target of 85 per cent, to ensure it applies its own procedures and policy relating to making special payments to consumers as compensation where there are failings in its own service. This is a welcomed improvement compared to 48.4 per cent in 2006/07."

The Commissioner spoke of her earlier decision in relation to the 2008/09 Plan: "I had hoped that the LCS and SRA would want to build on the improvements in performance for 2007/08 by submitting an appropriate Improvement Plan (including the targets I set) for 2008/09. However, I recently announced my decision to impose a £275,000 penalty on the Law Society for its inadequate 2008/09 Plan. It failed to demonstrate a commitment to achieve many of the targets at the level I set, and this would have prevented sufficient progress being made towards achieving effective and efficient complaints handling. Having an adequate Plan in place is in the best interests of consumers and the legal profession."

The Commissioner concluded: "The LCS needs to commit to further improvements that will safeguard the consumer and profession as it moves towards closure in the next two years and hands over complaints to the new Office for Legal Complaints, scheduled to be established in 2010."

Details

(Posted: 23-06-2008)

Back to top

Experts lay down the gauntlet to eco-town developers

The 15 experts on the Eco-towns Challenge Panel set out a series of recommendations for potential eco-town developers designed to improve their plans to create world-leading sustainable developments.
Many bidders have been praised for their vision and commitment, but others are warned that their ideas must be more ambitious or that they lack innovation.

Formed of leading experts from the worlds of design, the environment, transport and sustainability, the Panel was tasked with reviewing developers' proposals, providing expert advice on their work and challenging them to meet the highest standards possible. Developers were grilled on issues ranging from ability to reduce the carbon footprint of residents and their reliance on cars to the likely "day in the life" of an eco-town resident in 2020.

Housing Minister Caroline Flint said: "I have been clear from the start that only those bids that reach the highest possible standards for sustainability can make it through. The Eco-town Challenge Panel have played an important role in both providing advice and encouragement to developers on what they have done well, but also challenging them to up their game where there is room for improvement. I'd like to thank the Panel for all their hard work.

"This process was meant to be a challenging ride for the developers, and they need to be open to the creativity of these ideas. Some clearly need to up their game and the ball is now in their court."

John Walker, chairman of the Eco-towns Challenge Panel, said: "Our brief was to challenge each proposal in a robust and constructive way, and I think we have done a good job on that front. We have seen much to admire, but in all cases we are challenging the developers to take major steps forward. We want the final eco-towns to be better than the best of the current examples that do exist in the UK and the rest of Europe – clearly there is still a lot of work to do."

Developers now have the opportunity to consider how they plan to respond to these challenges before meeting with the Panel again next month to discuss their work in progress.

Details

(Posted: 23-06-2008)

Back to top

JLD Pro Bono Awards 2008: nominations open

The Law Society’s Junior Lawyers Division has opened nominations for the 10th annual Pro Bono Awards.

Previously known as the Young Solicitors Group Awards, the JLD Pro Bono Awards are open to the following:

• LPC students;
• Trainee solicitors; and
• Solicitors up to five years qualified.

• Solicitor – local projects (projects undertaken by a solicitor assisting individuals or groups based in the UK);
• Solicitor – international projects (projects undertaken by a solicitor assisting individuals or groups outside the UK);
• Solicitor – team (projects undertaken by a group of solicitors assisting individuals or groups whether based in the UK or abroad);
• Trainee (projects undertaken by an individual trainee or group of trainees, whether the project is based in the UK or abroad); and
• Student (projects undertaken by an individual student or group of students, whether the project is based in the UK or abroad).

(Posted: 20-06-2008)

Back to top

Law Society Excellence Awards 2008 – nominations open

This year's Law Society Excellence Awards are now open for nominations with new categories including client service, marketing and business development and exporting legal services. Last year's awards established the event as a prestigious date in the legal calendar, recognising and rewarding the most outstanding practitioners in the legal professions. Winning an award is a huge achievement and brings great recognition for individuals and firms. The awards are open to individuals and teams across the entire legal sector, not just solicitors. The closing date for entries is Friday, 12 September.

Details

(Posted: 20-06-2008)

Back to top

Property Section releases updated Handling HIPs guide

The Law Society Property Section has just released version four of its Handling HIPs booklet, following the government's announcement of the rollout of Home Information Packs (HIPs) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to the rest of the market from 14 December 2007.

The booklet is designed to assist property practitioners meet the challenges and opportunities that Home Information Packs (HIPs) present. It aims to provide an initial reference source to help users deal with the practicalities of the new requirements.

The booklet has been prepared by the Law Society Property Section with input from members of the Section’s Executive Committee and the Law Society HIPs Taskforce. It is updated as and when new information is available.

Members can download the current version for free from the “resources” area of the website. Non-members can purchase the booklet for £25 via the e-shop.

Details: propertysection@lawsociety.org.uk

(Posted: 22-11-2007)

Back to top

Earn up to eight hours free CPD points each year with PIP

The Property Section has introduced a way for members to meet CPD requirements via its Property in Practice magazine:

• Fifteen multiple choice questions will be published on the Section’s website to coincide with the release of every issue (March, June, September and December).
• The questions will only relate to articles in that issue and are designed to ensure practitioners have read and understood the content. 
• After submitting all the answers in one sitting, members will be notified online immediately of their result. 
• If successful, members can claim two hours unaccredited CPD. To be successful, the score most be more than 12. Answers cannot be re-submitted.
• Members will have until a week before the next CPD-based issue to complete the quiz. 
• Past results can be viewed and printed via the Edit my Profile area of the website.
• Members need to use their current website username and password. To request a new one, please email propertysection@lawsociety.org.uk or telephone 020 7320 5873.
• This is only available to members. If you normally pass your copy of Property in Practice to colleagues, contact the Section and change to corporate membership so they too can join and take advantage of the service. If you're not a member, join now.

(Posted: 12-09-2006)

Back to top