To all our clients and readers.
This, by Low, is my second favourite Xmas song and we did Kirsty and the Pogues last year. (I notice on You tube that Snow Patrol have covered it too).
Have a good one.
Sorry, I have been remiss with postings here this week, some interviewing, in-house training and my new admin role have got in the way a bit. Usually I would have read all of the new stuff here and provided you a quick synopsis but unfortunately other more urgent things are calling. Might try this weekend - but then again Xmas shopping needs doing.
Interviewing for Sandra's replacement later so limited time to blog. Hopefully we will find someone and things can begin to return to normal - including here.
I trained what was comparatively a very young team the other week - a general introduction to the civil scheme.
Speaking afterwards the supervisors expressed how difficult it is to match new young fee earners enthusiasm, burgeoning professionalism and commitment high standards of client care with the economic imperatives of a standard fee based scheme. And then they get me to train them!
Graham has been listening to this lot this afternoon whilst costs drafting away - it is over a year since they had the Friday song slot so here, from Canada, are Arcade Fire.
Even More on VAT
Here is a further guidance document which we will all have to read (might not have time myself today playing live tonight need a bit of a practice, and a shave).
Two other new items to read too. If anyone wants to shove a summary for us hard pressed amateur musicians in the comments box feel free.
We got news of another positive outcome to an "appeal" yesterday evening. I will, indeed must, spare you the detail but essentially it involved Duty Solicitor scheme compliance. Our other most recent case was similarly to do with Duty rota issues. Both cases could have theoretically left us conflicted (indeed I might find myself on the other side of the same argument in a third which is brewing), and one of the 2 involved a clash between competitor firms.
The LSC has an unenviable role in such cases, effectively becoming a referee in a local dispute. Perhaps that is why they were so inflexible with regard to the most recent case. They do however self-define their investigative powers in such matters,quite widely, and operate without any clear rules as to procedural conduct.
As the LSC "evolve" the market it may well be that such events become more frequent.
In between learning my new job I have had the usual phone traffic. This included a delegate at one of the Commissions courses concerning the reloading of Online billing. Despite feeling that they have done much better this time he did express the concern that the assumptions surrounding maximum, logged on at any one time, usage.
His expressed concern is that this will prove too small and result in difficulties getting online at critical reporting times.
We will have to wait and see. In the mean time the roll out continues.
This is my first day, for hopefully a short duration, as admin. officer in addition to my other duties. Fortunately the phone has been pretty quiet, mainly nuisance calls, so I am making pretty good progress despite invoicing seemingly being much more complicated then when I previously did both roles. Trust there to be a VAT change just as this happened.
As we let you know earlier in the week, today is Sandra's last day as JRS Director of Administrative Services. I know from the regular feedback I receive how much you value her work as part of the JRS gang, and that she will be missed. These are, of course, feelings we echo. We, and I am sure you all, wish her all the very best for the future and deep and sincere thanks for the past 9 years.
Here is her chosen last, Friday song:
The entirely foreseeable problem, that under the Crown Court Litigators Fee solicitors would reduce the amount of fee earner time sitting behind Counsel, has hit the buffers.
After many years of trying, via numerous attempts, we have finally had a Point of Principle certified. In the world of standard fees it will prove largely immaterial but such is life. I will wait until it is numbered and published before we display its full magnificence here.
It does of course remind you of the misery of the Contract Compliance wars and its many casualties.
Thought the VAT thing might prove a little more tricky than originally thought.
I had forgotten, and Andy has just reminded me, that you can claim up to £400 for supervising someone sucessfully through the Police Station accreditation scheme.
After 9 years of enforced captivity Sandra has finally completed her tunnel and will be leaving us for pastures new on Friday. I know that many of you will want the opportunity to say good-bye yourselves so I am posting this by way of advanced notice.