Latest news
Legal profession “five years behind the curve” on diversity
The legal profession is “five years behind the curve” on diversity and inclusion and has “only in recent times” appreciated just how unequal access is, the chief executive of the LSB has said.
Barrister’s advice “not complete defence” in law centre negligence case
A master was wrong to find that a law centre’s reliance on advice from a specialist barrister merited summary judgment on a negligence claim against it, the High Court has ruled.
SQE will not “deliver on diversity” in current form
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination will not “deliver a more diverse profession in its current shape”, the founder of a campaign to achieve equality for women in the law has said.
Fee-share firm to give retiring partners 10% of clients’ fees for life
A groundbreaking fee-share practice is to pay retiring lawyers 10% of the fees generated from their former clients for the rest of their lives and then their families once they die.
Law firm owners suspended for accounts breaches dating back to 1980s
The veteran husband and wife owners of a Midlands law firm have been suspended for manifest incompetence after allowing dormant client balances to build up over decades.
CA rejects latest challenge to costs deduction from damages
The time for a client to challenge a solicitor’s deduction from their damages runs from the time the deduction is made, without the client having to agree the specific amount.
Employment law highlights “gender gap” in civil legal justice
Employment law is one of the main areas where women face systemic barriers to seeking civil legal help and legal aid needs to be expanded as a result, a feminist think tank has urged.
New firm looks to create consumer brand after Shoosmiths deal
A law firm connected to a leading financial services claims business has used backing from a litigation funder to acquire Shoosmiths’ private client practice as it plots major growth.
Law firm must pay £13k for head of family’s constructive dismissal
A law firm that tried to change its head of family’s bonus scheme without notice and failed to promote her as agreed must pay her almost £13,000 for breach of contract and constructive dismissal.
CA: Interpreters’ fees are recoverable in fixed-cost PI cases
Interpreters’ fees are recoverable as a disbursement in PI fixed costs cases, without which solicitors may not take on cases for clients who cannot speak English, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Blog
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
Linklaters’ chief growth officer takes the ‘blank sheet’ challenge
In the third and final part of this series, Lucy Murphy, chief growth officer at magic circle firm Linklaters, outlines her vision for the law firm of the future.
The ‘blank sheet’ challenge, part 2 – what would you do differently?
In the second part of this blog series, Shainul Kassam, managing director of small London firm Fortune Law, sets out how she would set up a law firm now.
