Lawyers told: don’t be put off social media by barrister fined over tweets

Lawyers were this week told not to be discouraged from embracing social media after a barrister who was among the legal pioneers on Twitter was fined for messages he posted on the service. However, the case does raise questions over the role of regulators in policing lawyers’ activity on Twitter.

RJW deal shows firms have a realisable value – and are getting “real” about business, say experts

Slater & Gordon’s takeover of Russell Jones & Walker is evidence that law firms are “joining the real business world” and that there is realisable value in legal practices, leading consultants have said.

Government to consider tightening up referral fee ban and regulating third-party funding

The government is to consider tightening up the ban on referral fees in personal injury and also introducing statutory regulation of third-party litigation funding, it confirmed yesterday. It also clarified whether payments can be made for solicitor-to-solicitor referrals under the ban.

New websites aid solicitors seeking barristers, and consumers seeking solicitors they can trust

A new service has been launched that allows solicitors to contact numerous sets of barristers chambers simultaneously to check what counsel are available for a case they are looking to cover. Meanwhile, another online service aimed at helping consumers find tradesmen is now targeting the legal market.

Fixed-share partners are partners and not employees, Court of Appeal confirms

SRA calls on government to provide more clarity over referral fee ban

News in brief: solicitors, accountants and IFAs join forces, “ABSs are future for conveyancing”, and more