Latest news
QC to offer free direct access video surgery
A leading QC is to take part in a pioneering free direct access video surgery later this month. Stephen Harvey QC will be discussing business risk and regulation via a new online video platform. The approach has also won the backing of the Bar Council.
Small law firm partners charging only £50 per hour, survey finds
Some partners in small law firms are charging £50 per hour – only £10 more than the lowest paid fee-earners, a survey has found. In some firms equity partners took home less than non-partners.
High Court: solicitors had duty to advise on commercial element of deal
The High Court has dismissed a claim against a firm of solicitors, despite finding it negligent in failing to raise the absence of a covenant in restraint of competition during the purchase of a commercial property. It considered the lengths that a solicitor is expected to go to beyond facilitating the immediate transaction.
BSB criticises its training course but remains tight-lipped on future
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has strongly criticised the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), while remaining tight-lipped as to whether it should be scrapped. The criticisms came in a Future Bar Training consultation paper.
SDT rejects plea to avoid strike-off from solicitor convicted of possessing indecent images
A solicitor convicted of child pornography offences has been struck off after his plea to be suspended instead so that he might retain some dignity and as an acknowledgement of his efforts in the profession was rejected.
Government not keen on more regulation, warns LSB chief – despite issues around unregulated providers
The new government is not keen to extend regulation of legal services, including will-writing, the chief executive of the Legal Services Board (LSB) has warned. Richard Moriarty said innovation was key to tackling the “trilemma” facing legal services.
SRA floats end to both compulsory minimum PII and compensation fund
An end to a compulsory minimum level of professional indemnity insurance (PII) and replacing the compensation fund with an insurance policy are among the ideas for reform of client protection arrangements put forward by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Solicitors adopting “more enlightened” approach to billing
Law firms in England and Wales have imported the practice used by some American firms of offering clients the opportunity to reduce bills if they perceive poor service, it has emerged.
Law firm should have warned property investors about “notoriously crime-ridden” Calabria
A law firm with offices in Italy and England was under a duty to warn British and Irish property investors of the risks of investing in a part of Italy associated with organised crime, the High Court has ruled.
Osborne: CMCs face fundamental review and fees cap
A “fundamental review” of claims management companies – along with a cap on the fees that they can charge consumers – was announced by Chancellor George Osborne in today’s Summer Budget.
Blog
Awaab’s Law phase 2: New hazards council tenants can now claim for
The conversation on housing disrepair is moving beyond damp and mould alone. With the rollout of phase 2 of Awaab’s Law, the scope of issues covered is expanding significantly,
Beyond PCP: Can regulators and lawyers work better together next time?
Nearly a decade after the Financial Conduct Authority began investigating the car finance industry, the story of the PCP commission scandal is still unfinished.
Accountability has to live within governance, not with one person
The assumption has long been that a COLP or COFA is personally exposed to the consequences of anti-money laundering breaches.
