Latest news
MoJ’s top mandarin under fire from MPs for failing to release report on future of crime firms
Dame Ursula Brennan, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, faced angry questions from opposition MPs yesterday as to why a highly critical report on the criminal legal aid cuts had only been released last month – more than a year after it was finished.
Now BT Law provides employment advice to external clients
BT Law, the alternative business structure launched by BT in March 2013, is providing employment law services to four external clients, it has emerged.
Regulators advised to introduce extra checks as way to avoid costly judicial reviews
Regulators should consider introducing a third-party review system of administrative decisions as a way to ward off the threat of expensive judicial reviews (JRs), a report by City law firm Devonshires has recommended.
Law firm failed in duties to mortgage company, High Court rules
Home Counties law firm B Legal failed in its duties to a purchaser of mortgage-backed securities, the High Court has held, in two of the four test cases it considered.
Groundbreaking accountancy ABS targets broader range of legal services
The first firm of accountants to become an alternative business structure (ABS) licensed by its own regulator is planning to extend the range of legal services it offers, its senior partner has revealed.
Final striking-off brings £13m Wolstenhomes saga to a close
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has struck off Nasir Ilyas, the last partner of North West firm Wolstenholmes to be disciplined for professional misconduct.
“Beyond comprehension” why struggling law firm failed to make HMRC arrangement
A tribunal judge has described as “beyond comprehension” the failure of a financially struggling law firm to make special arrangements with HMRC under the ‘time to pay’ scheme.
Firms line up to help develop probate apprenticeship
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has given the green light to a 10-firm consortium led by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers to develop a specialist probate apprenticeship.
Neil Hudgell Solicitors doubles in size with purchase of Rapid
Highly acquisitive personal injury firm Neil Hudgell Solicitors has doubled in size with the purchase of rival Hull firm Rapid Solicitors, creating a £20m practice. The combined firm will have over 220 staff and handle more than 10,000 claims.
BSB uncovers chambers with financial problems and tells them to prepare “emergency plans”
The Bar Standards Board has told three chambers with financial problems to “prepare emergency plans” to minimise the impact on clients should they be forced to close.
Blog
Reorientation in the AI era must begin with the client
Much of the discussion about AI in the legal industry focuses on technology: which tools to adopt and which tasks might get automated. But this misses the deeper story.
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.
