Proclaim Alternative Business Structures Personal Injury goes live

A Manchester-based law firm that recently announced its £3million expansion plans has become the first practice in the country to implement Proclaim ABS PI.

Express Solicitors – a current Eclipse client – employs over 80 staff and has recently embarked upon a campaign to recruit an additional 40.  The firm specialises in personal injury (PI) and clinical negligence claims, and is implementing a number of strategies in readiness for the entrance of Alternative Business Structures (ABS) into the legal services sector.

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Eclipse Proclaim client, Co-operative Legal Services, becomes first ABS

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) today announced that it has licensed its first three alternative business structures (ABS).

The trio comprises Co-operative Legal Services, John Welch and Stammers, and Lawbridge Solicitors Ltd.

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How Proclaim Case Management Software is helping Nesbit Law Group

The full extent to which Alternative Business Structures (ABS) will impact upon the legal services market is as yet unknown.  At a time of great uncertainty, one firm is planning confidently for the future – safe in the knowledge that it has the right software systems in place.

Nesbit Law Group is an 80-strong, vibrant firm of solicitors dealing with personal injury claims, primarily road traffic accidents (RTA).  The firm uses Eclipse’s Proclaim Case Management Software system, allowing fee-earners to turn around cases far quicker than the industry average.

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The UK’s first ABS – Alternative Business Structures – Case Management Software

The UK’s leading Case Management Software provider, Eclipse Legal Systems, has launched the market’s first ABS-specific systems.

The legal services industry will soon see new players – in the form of ‘Alternative Business Structures’ (ABS) – enter the marketplace.  The SRA is currently processing applications from organisations all vying to be among the first to announce official ABS status – market commentators expect to see the first tranche of live ABSs in the first quarter of this year.

Eclipse Legal Systems has made available two new Proclaim Case Management Software systems, taking into account the unique requirements of ABS organisations.

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Alternative Business Structures

The message from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is loud and clear.  Alternative Business Structures (ABS) are coming and despite the delay they will soon be in position to begin accepting applications.

At a recent event, sponsored by Eclipse Legal Systems, SRA Chief Executive - Andrew Townsend - spoke about the regulatory delays and the levels of current interest being experienced in the ABS application process.

Points of note included:

• 15 "serious discussions" are currently ongoing with firms including claims management companies, law firms, major retailers, accountancy firms, loss adjusters and private equity houses
• The SRA is planning to open its books to ABS applicants in December

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Alternative Business Structures - Eclipse headline-sponsors roadshow series

We are delighted to announce our headline sponsorship of the forthcoming ABS (Alternative Business Structures) ‘Ask the Experts’ Roadshow.

• How does banning referral fees affect your business model?
• Does the new legal market give you more appetite to be an ABS?
• What is the industry’s reaction?

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Alternative Business Structures - Land of Opportunity?

October will undoubtedly bring change to the legal services marketplace, but Alternative Businesses Structures can be just as much an opportunity as a threat.

Later this year the time for talking will finally be over. Ever since the publication of the Legal Services Act four years ago, there have been varying predictions on the scale and impact of Alternative Business Structures (ABS).

Some commentators have painted a bleak picture for current providers with the likes of Tesco, ASDA, Virgin and the AA all queuing up to take advantage of deregulation which will allow nonlegals to either own law firms or hold management positions therein.  However, others have suggested a less dramatic impact on the market with a few well-known consumer brands - banks, estate agents and so on - adding legal services to their existing offerings.

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