Latest news
SDT grants anonymity to solicitor over drink-drive conviction
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has taken the unusual step of anonymising the identity of a solicitor appearing before it after a drink-driving conviction.
Bad advice risk for viewers as ‘lawfluencers’ opt for quantity
Lawyer-influencers or ‘lawfluencers’ are opting for “quantity over quality” in their video posts, putting viewers at risk of receiving advice that is “rushed, poorly researched or even inaccurate”.
APIL issues JR over shortcomings in new fixed costs rules
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has issued judicial review (JR) proceedings challenging aspects of the new rules to extend fixed recoverable costs.
Reprimand for barrister who showed “contempt for legal process”
A barrister who made 10 meritless applications, including damages claims worth £4m against a council, and as a result was made subject to an extended civil restraint order, has been reprimanded.
Fewer lawyers on active search for new jobs, survey suggests
The proportion of lawyers actively seeking a new job fell for the third consecutive year to 10%, according to new research, although 45% described themselves as ‘passive’ jobseekers.
BSB chief: We cannot stop review websites covering barristers
The Bar Standards Board has warned that it cannot stop the growing interest in featuring barristers on online review and comparison websites, even if the profession wants it to.
Partner rebuked for backdating documents used in divorce case
A solicitor who followed a client’s instructions to backdate a loan agreement and then did not disclose it as part of divorce proceedings has been rebuked for her “error of judgment”.
Integration and cash flow problems brought down law firm consolidator
The administrators’ report into the collapse in June of the Law Direct group has highlighted how hard it is to build a law firm consolidator, as problems with integration led to cash flow difficulties.
Axiom Ince stops taking new instructions as break-up looms
The end appears nigh for Axiom Ince, with the law firm admitting that it has stopped taking new instructions and will “likely be unable to continue in its current format”.
CJC presses ahead with radical reform plans for pre-action protocols
The Civil Justice Council has made only minor changes to proposals for radical reform of pre-action protocols in the first part of a final report on the issue.
Blog
The profession can play a greater role in improving access to justice
In this, the third blog of my series, I focus on what lawyers in the UK can do to improve access to justice through greater professional stewardship.
Does AI work for conveyancers? We asked those on the front line
What is the view on AI from conveyancers themselves? Based on a Dye & Durham’s roundtable discussion on AI, the answer is: it depends.
Is the legal profession ready for agentic AI?
An AI agent is difficult to supervise. By design, it works in the background. It means a solicitor can be held responsible for work they had no real means to oversee.
Reports
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