Latest news
Centralised property data system needed to improve moving process
The government needs to ensure better up-front information and create a centralised property data system to improve the home-buying process, Santander argued yesterday.
Unqualified law firm staff cannot conduct litigation, says court
Unqualified employees of law firms can support a solicitor in conducting litigation – but cannot conduct litigation under the supervision of a solicitor, the High Court has ruled.
Claimant did not take “reasonable steps” to serve law firm negligence claim
A claimant failed to take reasonable steps to serve a claim form in a £572,000 professional negligence action against a law firm, a judge has ruled.
Reprimand for legal aid solicitor over cash paid in car park
A veteran solicitor who received £6,000 in cash from a legally aided client’s brother-in-law in a car park has been cleared of breaching legal aid rules.
Law firm raises £50m to fund cases brought by other lawyers
Cardiff’s Capital Law has set up a litigation funding arm and secured backing of up to £50m to finance smaller commercial cases run by other mid-market law firms.
SSB victims “have questions” as lender wipes off loans
Former clients of SSB Law have welcomed the decision of Novitas Loans to halt any recovery of the loans given to them to pursue cavity wall insulation claims.
CAT approves £3.8m payment to charity from unclaimed damages
The Competition Appeal Tribunal has approved an agreed £3.8m payment from unclaimed damages in a collective action to the Access to Justice Foundation.
Bullish Knights reports 8% rise in turnover as debt nearly doubles
Revenue at listed law firm consolidator Knights was up 8% in its last financial year to £162m, with underlying profit 11% higher at £28m, its annual results have shown.
Barrister referred to BSB for misleading tribunal with ChatGPT
A barrister who used ChatGPT to draft grounds of appeal for the Upper Tribunal that included a fake case reference, and then failed to admit it, has been referred to the BSB.
Solicitor “did not perceive risk” of failing to witness PoA properly
A solicitor who failed to properly witness a power of attorney during the pandemic has received a suspended suspension.
Blog
Change in regulator shouldn’t make AML less of a priority
While SRA fines for AML have been climbing, many in the profession aren’t confident they will get any relief from the FCA, a body used to dealing with a highly regulated industry.
There are 17 million wills waiting to be written
The main reason cited by people who do not have a will was a lack of awareness as to how to arrange one. As a professional community, we seem to be failing to get our message across.
The case for a single legal services regulator: why the current system is failing
From catastrophic firm collapses to endemic compliance failures, the evidence is mounting that the current multi-regulator model is fundamentally broken.
