Latest news
Bar Council: “Hard to fathom” LSB’s criticism of cab-rank rule
The Bar Council has hit back at Legal Services Board comments on the cab-rank rule, saying that it is “hard to fathom” why it would be against a rule that supports consumer choice.
Big law firms abandon external investment in the face of volatility
None of the top 100 law firms are “actively pursuing alternative funding or ownership structures”, such as listing on Stock Exchange, for the next three to five years, a survey has found.
LSB: Lawyers’ misconduct justifies further action on NDAs
Examples of lawyers’ misconduct when dealing with non-disclosure agreements are a “cause for concern” and justify further regulatory action, the Legal Services Board said this week.
Online probate process “taking longer than paper”
Private client lawyers believe the new online probate process is taking longer than the old paper-based system, with family solicitors and civil litigators also unhappy with digital processes.
“Relatively straightforward” for barristers to avoid cab-rank rule
It seems “relatively straightforward” for barristers to avoid the cab-rank rule and its importance to access to justice may be overstated, the Legal Services Board has said.
SRA: “Significant minority” of firms still falling short on AML
Nearly 30% of firms probed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for their adherence to anti-money laundering rules in the last year were non-compliant, new figures have shown.
Businessman sent law firm manure as part of harassment campaign
A businessman in a bitter dispute with fellow directors sent manure to one law firm and targeted an associate at another as part of a campaign of harassment, a court has heard.
PI lawyers attack “premature disclosure” of OIC medical reports
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has condemned plans for the “premature disclosure” of medical reports on the Official Injury Claim portal.
SDT rejects employment tribunal finding of solicitor’s discrimination
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has cleared a leading solicitor of pregnancy discrimination against a paralegal despite an employment tribunal finding him guilty of it.
“No evidence” that barristers need new AML regime
There is “absolutely no evidence” that barristers and other advocates need a new anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime, their UK representative bodies have argued.
Blog
The cost of systemic failure and childbirth injuries
Recent reports show that the NHS has paid almost £3.5bn in medical claims around childbirth injuries over the past six years.
Mazur: when regulators make simple things complicated
What the last six months have shown is that supervision cannot be treated as a background compliance obligation quietly managed somewhere in a firm’s operational processes.
How unstoppable AI is reshaping UK legal practice
At a time when most technology innovation still flows from the US and China, UK lawtech is attracting growing international attention and capital.
