29th June 2026 | blogging

Twin Bars "Dragon" Julie Waddell and DASLS President Ben Darby feature in June 2026 edition of the Law Society Gazette looking at Entrepreneurs Click to read the full article. ...

18th June 2026 | Blogging

SRA ConsultationDraft Business Plan and Funding Requirement 2026/27DASLS has submitted its response to the SRA's consultation about its draft Business Plan and Funding Requirement 2026/27.Whilst accepting investment is needed we raise concerns about the level of increases without clarification about measurable outcomes and how lessons will be learned from the mistakes of the recent past.Above all it emphasises the need to rebuild the relationship and trust between the regulator and those it regulates. Read the full text here: /uploads/dasls-business-plan-and-funding-requirement-2026-consultation-response.pdf To read the SRA's proposal see https://www.sra.org.uk/sra/consultations/ The consultation closes on Monday 22nd June at 12 noon.   The national Law Society's response can be viewed at SRA 2026/27 business plan consultation - Law Society response | The Law Society...

09th June 2026 | blogging

    Mark Ansell DL, The High Sheriff of Devon hosted the Legal Sunday Service 2026 at Exeter Cathedral on Sunday 7th June Dressed in full robes and uniforms the DASLS Presidential team, members and our visiting International guests processed from the Royal Albert Memorial Museum to Exeter Cathedral. This significant service acknowledges, celebrates and gives thanks for the work of all those involved in the criminal justice system in Devon. Following the service a drinks reception took place at the Royal Memorial Museum.  Thank you to all those in attendance for make this such a successful event. ...

09th June 2026 | blogging

Legal Runner came to Exeter on Saturday 6th June 2026  👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 Mark Evans, The Law Society President of England & Wales & Council member for North Wales will be launched Legal Runner in Exeter during his visit for the DASLS Twin Bars Event.  Mark was joined by our DASLS President Ben Darby, International Guests and DASLS members for a 5km loop along the canal from Exeter Quay to double Double Locks.  Thank you to all those that took part.   View Photos and Reel  If you would like to get involved with furure running events, please email kelly@dasls.com    Read the Law Society Article looking at the story of the "Legal Runner"            Accessibility For All Social Group Running for the Legal Community Just for Fun - Find out more and Join the running community on LinkedIn     ORDER your Legal Runner T-Shirt and Support LawCare             The #Law Society president: wellbeing advice “We need safe spaces where lawyers can speak openly with people who understand their experiences.” - Mark Evans, Law Society president and founder of LegalRunner – a series of local running groups for legal professionals - shares why social running is helping people to open up about their wellbeing.       Mark Evans is the 181st President of the Law Society of England & Wales, representing over 210,000 solicitors. He brings more than 28 years’ experience in property and private client practice and is committed to innovation, inclusivity, and access to justice.      ...

17th February 2026 | Management Training

STUDIO BASED MEDIA SKILLS TRAINING Are you ready?• Your Client asks you to give a televised statement to the Press.• You are to be interviewed by the local radio station about a data leak in your firm. This training will give you the skills and experience to confidently deal with the pace and pressure of media situations. Led by David ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald, the day is set in a working broadcast environment where delegates step into authentic TV, radio and press conference scenarios. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS Contact tony@dasls.com to arrange a booking....

02nd January 2017 | Management Training

SRA Account Rules - Your Essentials Date:  24 September 2026 Time:  9:30am - 12:30pm Venue:  Exeter Racecourse, Exeter Speaker:  Janet Taylor   Course Outline:  Why you and your staff should attend these sessions? We’ve had lots of recent consultations on/discussions around these Rules, some changes are coming, some are still being considered. It is vital that firms are fully up to date, including on current principles and best practice. The protection of client money remains is the joint and several responsibility of all principals in a law firm. This responsibility extends not only to their own compliance but that of all employees. Effective compliance depends upon everyone in the firm understanding their role and responsibilities, the firm’s own procedures and communicating information effectively. These two sessions are designed for everyone in a law firm to keep up to date, with a good understanding of the key rules and common pitfalls. The sessions will be practical and participative and will use case study exercises and examples.   Morning session - Your essentials Aimed primarily at staff with little or no knowledge of the Accounts Rules and those who are returning to this area and need to get back ‘up to speed’ and will cover: The SRA Standards and Regulations Where are we now? Where the SRA Accounts Rules fit in Areas of the Codes of Conduct which impact on the SRA Accounts Rules? Who is covered by the Rules The Accounts Rules Fundamental principles All the key definitions Client versus non-client money. Disbursements Holding and dealing with client money Bank accounts Receipts and payments Transferring money for costs Dealing with balances Accounting records requirements Client account reconciliations an overview Fees: DASLS Members/Affiliates:  Half Day:  £145 plus VAT  Full Day:  £225 plus VAT (discounted rate applied if you also book the afternoon session) Non Members: Half Day:  £165 plus VAT  Full Day:  £250 plus VAT (discounted rate applied if you also book the afternoon session)    Janet Taylor FCA, Partner Taylor Mowbray LLP and Consultant, PKF Francis Clark Janet has been joint owner of Taylor Mowbray LLP for over 15 years. Prior to that she spent over 10 years with a top 20 accounting firm heading up their specialist solicitors’ group. She currently acts as a consultant to a PKF Francis Clark as part of their specialist solicitors group. A highly experienced presenter of over 20 years’ experience, she has also become known as a specialist on the SRA Accounts Rules. She presents to a wide range of law firms through in-house and public seminars. Clients have included several major international and national law firms as well as accountants. Janet is the current Subject Matter Expert for the ICAEW’s Solicitors Community Advisory Group and co-author with Andrew Allen of the current version of the Law Society Solicitors and the Accounts Rules manual.    ...

02nd January 2017 | Management Training

SRA Account Rules - Key Risks & Common Problem Areas Date:  24th September 2026 Time:  1:30am - 4:30pm Venue:  Exeter Racecourse, Exeter Speaker:  Janet Taylor   Course Outline:  Why you and your staff should attend these sessions? We’ve had lots of recent consultations on/discussions around these Rules, some changes are coming, some are still being considered. It is vital that firms are fully up to date, including on current principles and best practice. The protection of client money remains is the joint and several responsibility of all principals in a law firm. This responsibility extends not only to their own compliance but that of all employees. Effective compliance depends upon everyone in the firm understanding their role and responsibilities, the firm’s own procedures and communicating information effectively. These two sessions are designed for everyone in a law firm to keep up to date, with a good understanding of the key rules and common pitfalls. The sessions will be practical and participative and will use case study exercises and examples.   Afternoon session – Key Risks & Common Problem Areas While the SRA Accounts Rules allow some ’flexibility’ this can bring its own challenges. This session will look at some of the high risk areas and common problems.  Aimed at those with or needing a wider knowledge of and responsibility for compliance, particularly partners and COFAs, and will cover: Latest Guidance from the SRA Responsibility for compliance and the role of the COFA (and those who support them) Higher risk areas and the latest SRA guidance on these issues, including: The prohibition on providing banking facilities through the client account Dealing with residual balances; Reviewing reconciliations; Money held in the Client’s own bank account ‘Suitable’ systems and procedures and written policies Changes we have seen so far Fees: DASLS Members/Affiliates:  Half Day:  £145 plus VAT  Full Day:  £225 plus VAT (discounted rate applied if you also book the morning session) Non Members: Half Day:  £165 plus VAT  Full Day:  £250 plus VAT (discounted rate applied if you also book the morning session)    Janet Taylor FCA, Partner Taylor Mowbray LLP and Consultant, PKF Francis Clark Janet has been joint owner of Taylor Mowbray LLP for over 15 years. Prior to that she spent over 10 years with a top 20 accounting firm heading up their specialist solicitors’ group. She currently acts as a consultant to a PKF Francis Clark as part of their specialist solicitors group. A highly experienced presenter of over 20 years’ experience, she has also become known as a specialist on the SRA Accounts Rules. She presents to a wide range of law firms through in-house and public seminars. Clients have included several major international and national law firms as well as accountants. Janet is the current Subject Matter Expert for the ICAEW’s Solicitors Community Advisory Group and co-author with Andrew Allen of the current version of the Law Society Solicitors and the Accounts Rules manual.    ...

02nd January 2017 | Management Training

Time recording and Pricing Masterclass  Date:  Tuesday 29th September 2026 Time:  9:45am - 1:00pm Venue: Exeter Racecourse, Exeter Speaker:  Robert Mowbray Course Outline:  Attending this seminar will provide you with simple and practical advice on how you can charge for more of your time and at higher rates.  Time recording The many benefits of recording all of your time Grey area questions to illustrate best practice Writing narratives that show “the value delivered to the client” Using billing notes to deal with a range of things including out of scope work Pricing strategies How will AI impact on pricing?” Understanding pricing windows and recognising that you can charge more and have happier clients Understanding the full range of pricing mechanisms and when they should be used Learning from other industries with fierce price competition Identifying ways of quoting that are better for the firm and the client Learning how to negotiate fees with greater confidence Managing discounts and asking for something in return Trading instead of discounting Using conditional offers Setting a walkaway point Action planning Fees DASLS Members/Affiliates:  £130 before 31/08/26 then £145 plus VAT  Non Members:  £165.00 plus VAT  3 for 2 offer! Book 3 places on this seminar and get the cheapest FREE!   Robert Mowbray BSc FCA Robert is an accountant who has worked in and with professional service firms for 30 years and who is an expert on law firm profitability and management. He has provided training and consultancy services to over 1,000 firms across 40 countries. His clients have included everything from the largest City and Global firms, through large regional firms and down to the most entrepreneurial smaller firms. He is regularly asked to help with a wide range of issues including time recording, pricing and fee negotiation, project management, accelerating cash flow, strategy, profit sharing arrangements and improving the quality of management information. He also helps lawyers to understand the financial statements of their clients. Robert is the author of “Maximising the profitability of law firms” and was the author of the Law Society’s annual financial benchmarking survey from 2006-2009. He is also the author of the annual NatWest financial benchmarking survey which is done for both solicitors and accountants. He has been voted “Trainer of the year” by the Legal Education & Training Group and is an Industrial Fellow of the Business School at Kingston University. Robert trained in the early 1980s with PWC and spent 20 years as a partner at Macintyre Hudson LLP before setting up Taylor Mowbray LLP with Janet Taylor in 2009 to be a niche and independent advisor to professional service firms.  ...