Latest news
SRA finally taken off report over way it handles ABS applications
The Legal Services Board has finally taken the Solicitors Regulation Authority off ‘report’ over how it is handling the approval of alternative business structures, with the number of licenses it has issued now topping 400.
Larger law firms switch to new SRA competence regime
A poll of larger commercial law firms has shown that a higher number than expected, around a quarter, have opted to introduce the new ‘hours-free’ continuing competence regime for solicitors.
Senior QC who worked with ‘named and shamed’ barrister found guilty of three misconduct offences
Ian Macdonald QC, one of the country’s leading immigration lawyers, has been found guilty of three misconduct offences by a Bar disciplinary tribunal. The offences relate to Mr Macdonald’s role as joint head of Kings Court Chambers in Birmingham.
Dentons creates legal business accelerator to push forward innovation in the law
International law firm Dentons has launched NextLaw Labs, “a global collaborative innovation platform” to develop and invest in new technologies and “transform the practice of law around the world”.
High Court: Tribunal right to disbar barrister who drafted false grounds of appeal
The High Court has upheld the disbarment of a barrister accused of drafting false grounds of appeal for a client found guilty on drugs charges.
Listing law firms urged to learn lessons of accountancy consolidators
Gateley and other law firms looking to go public must show they can avoid the costly mistakes the accountancy consolidators made when tried stock market listings, a leading commentator has warned.
Gateley bids to win over institutional investors
National law firm Gateley has already made presentations to 30 investment funds and has to convince them that it has learned the lessons of other professional services firms that have listed, the firm’s chief executive has told Legal Futures.
BSB seeks power to shut down chambers
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has proposed that it should be given, for the first time, the power to intervene in barristers’ practices and chambers. It also wants new powers on fines and setting up a compensation fund.
Bar Council chair pleads with barristers to pay fee that funds representative work
The chairman of the Bar Council has urged the increasing number of barristers who decline to pay a voluntary £100 levy to fund its representative work to think again. Alistair MacDonald contrasted this reluctance with the 7,722 barristers who each made a £30 donation to help fund the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
GC Hub aims to save in-house lawyers and law firms time and money
A former Addleshaw Goddard partner has set up a website to help in-house lawyers and law firms work together more effectively. Richard Fleetwood is working on GC Hub with the former head of legal at Rolls-Royce.
Blog
Mazur: a symptom not a cause?
If Mazur is a symptom, what does it mean for the underlying health of our civil justice system: the ‘finest legal system in the world’?
Cross-generation collaboration: the key to in-house legal tech adoption
In-house legal function leaders will increasingly have to evolve their thinking on how to manage multigenerational teams containing differing levels of technological expertise.
AI and law firm risk – the view of professional indemnity insurers
In considering law firm applications for cover, many insurers will expect to see evidence of how firms are adapting to AI and preparing for the future.
