Latest news
Trainee “bullied and unsupervised” in doing work of qualified lawyers
A trainee solicitor fired for raising concerns about her lack of supervision and the poor service clients were receiving from her firm has been awarded damages of £36,000.
Nursing regulator review finds in-house lawyers split over safeguarding
Lawyers at the Nursing and Midwifery Council found it “very hard to challenge” the orthodox approach to cases of serious misconduct outside of work, a damning report has found.
£36k fine for law firm which let millions pass through client account
A specialist sports law firm has been fined £36,000, and its COFA rebuked, for allowing its client account to be used as a banking facility.
What is a bill? Costs lawyers urge regime reform
Two significant High Court rulings in which law firms’ billing arrangements did not achieve what they had intended, emphasise the need for reform of the legal framework.
Solicitor leaves roll after misusing dormant client money
A solicitor who transferred £15,000 that was long sat dormant in client account to his firm’s office account has agreed to remove himself from the roll of solicitors.
Call to charge lawyers £450 to make complaint to FOS
A trade association for financial advisers has called on the Financial Ombudsman Service to impose charges of £450 per case on law firms and CMCs making volume complaints.
Listed law firm plans to double in size as it hits £150m revenue
Listed law firm Knights is planning to “double the business in medium term” as revenue hit £150m for the first time, although net debt rose to £35m.
Costs lawyers call for guidelines rates and judiciary recognition
Costs lawyers have become a fundamental part of litigation teams and this needs to be recognised in the guideline hourly rates and with the ability to apply for judicial appointment.
Judges slash “absurd” £343m budget for first part of diesel cars claim
The High Court has refused to sanction the “absurd” and “staggering” £343m in costs put forward by the claimants for just the first third of the diesel emissions group litigation.
Barrister who bought drugs from criminal clients disbarred
A barrister jailed for 14 months for obtaining drugs from two men he was representing has been disbarred after his fourth appearance before a Bar disciplinary tribunal.
Blog
The SRA’s strict liability gamble has failed. Good
The Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in Dentons v SRA on 27 April, and the profession is right to welcome it. It is the second time in short succession that the court has corrected the SRA.
How AI presents real opportunities for barristers
AI presents real opportunities to improve access to justice and to support barristers in day-to-day legal practice. But we all need to understand and mitigate the risks.
Not everything can be a competition issue – a new dawn for consumer redress
Last month, the Law Commission launched a new project to “consider the potential introduction of a consumer class actions regime” in England and Wales.
