Latest news
Probate staff “did not understand” digital processes, minister admits
HMCTS “did not have a mechanism to deliver comprehensive training” when the Probate Service was digitised, a justice minister has admitted.
“Keeping us ahead of the world” – Arbitration Act receives Royal Assent
The Arbitration Act received Royal Assent yesterday, with the government declaring it would keep the UK “ahead of the rest” and practitioners welcoming the new law.
Law firm’s bid to restrain winding-up petition in doubt
The High Court is to reconsider its intention to allow a Manchester law firm to restrain a claims provider from presenting a winding-up petition.
Solicitor took on mis-selling claims “without understanding them”
A solicitor has been fined for letting her firm run mortgage mis-selling claims when she had “no experience or expertise” and made multiple errors as a result.
Tribunal approves landmark £200m Mastercard settlement
The Competition Appeal Tribunal last week approved the £200m settlement of former solicitor Walter Merricks with Mastercard, in a case once valued at £14bn.
Barristers win 25% increase in rates for government work
Barristers doing government work will see a 25% increase in rates from 1 April, in some cases the first rise since the panels were first introduced in 1997.
SRA reopens case of business secretary calling himself a solicitor
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has reopened its investigation into business secretary Jonathan Reynolds describing himself as a solicitor.
Number of PI law firms drops a third in five years
The number of personal injury law firms has shrunk by more than a third in just five years, according to research which also found a “significant untapped market”.
Regulatory action against Post Office lawyers “could start this summer”
Both solicitors and barristers involved in the Post Office scandal could start to face disciplinary action by this summer, their regulators have declared.
First unsuccessful opt-out class rep to pay £14m in interim costs
The unsuccessful claimant in the first opt-out collective action decided by the Competition Appeal Tribunal has been ordered to make an interim costs payment of £14m.
Blog
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
Law firms need to go beyond document checks
At the root of every failed compliance review is a familiar phrase: a calm assertion of “but we did a document check”.
