Latest news
Only third of pupils would “definitely recommend” Bar as career
The proportion of pupil barristers who would “definitely recommend” the Bar as a career has fallen by 10 percentage points in a year to less than a third.
Law Society calls for “one-stop shop” AI platform for civil justice
The Law Society has called for the creation of a “one-stop shop” platform, backed by AI, to act as a single point of entry to the civil justice system.
Solicitor launches DIY divorce course to help people “arm themselves”
A solicitor who says she has been bombarded with requests for help from people wanting to divorce but unable to afford a lawyer has launched a DIY course for £79.99.
Solicitor who changed LPA and cheque “was not dishonest”
A solicitor who changed the terms of a lasting power of attorney and the date on a cheque without the client’s consent did not act dishonestly, the SDT has ruled.
Legal services “a national asset”, says government’s Industrial Strategy
The UK legal sector is “a national asset and an engine of economic growth”, the government declared yesterday as it unveiled its 10-year Industrial Strategy.
Mediation platform offers warring parties £25 chatbot service
A joint venture between a well-established UK mediation firm and a US-based online dispute resolution provider is offering individuals and SMEs a chatbot-based service for only £25 each.
Solicitor diverted client’s damages to company linked to his wife
A solicitor who diverted some of his client’s damages to a rehabilitation company connected to his wife – and created fake invoices that said it had treated the client – has been struck off.
Discrimination still prevalent in profession, say women lawyers
Most women in law (88%) believe sex discrimination is still prevalent in the profession, with 63% saying they had personally experienced it in the last five years.
“Whistleblowing” paralegal not unfairly dismissed by immigration firm
An employment tribunal has rejected claims from a paralegal that she was unfairly dismissed by her immigration firm for whistleblowing about client-care letters not being sent out.
‘Work hard, play hard’ solicitor suspended for groping colleagues
A male solicitor caught up in a ‘work hard, play hard’ culture at the London office of a US law firm has been suspended for a year for two instances of sexually touching female colleagues.
Blog
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
