Latest news
English law experience “not required” to qualify as solicitor
Candidates for the qualifying work experience component of the new solicitor’s qualification process will not have to gain it in an English law jurisdiction, it has emerged.
Court “wrong” to strike out small claim where party was absent but represented
The lower courts were wrong to strike out a small claim where the claimant failed to attend the trial personally but was represented by a lawyer, the Court of Appeal has held.
Lawyers’ eco-declaration sparks cab-rank rule row
A row about the cab-rank rule blew up today after barristers who have committed not to prosecute climate protestors or work for fossil fuel companies self-reported themselves to the BSB.
SRA in-house lawyer review fails to recognise “severity of risks”
The Solicitors Regulation Authority does not appear to recognise the “severity of the risks” facing in-house lawyers indicated by its own research, a group of senior practitioners has warned.
Completion of court modernisation programme pushed back again
Completion of the court modernisation programme has been pushed back again, this time to March 2024, it has emerged – in a blog, rather than a Ministry of Justice annoucement.
Compulsory family mediation “will reduce demand for law firms”
Plans to make mediation mandatory before a separating couple can go to court is likely to reduce demand for legal services providers, the Ministry of Justice said yesterday.
Law firm unfairly dismissed “homophobic” secretary
A law firm unfairly dismissed a legal secretary who made homophobic comments because of how it ran the disciplinary process, an employment tribunal has ruled.
LeO wins approval for 9.6% increase in budget to £16.8m
An “inflationary” 9.6% increase in the Legal Ombudsman’s budget for 2023-24, to £16.8m, has been approved by the Legal Services Board.
Barrister awarded £136,000 for CPS disability discrimination
A disabled former senior prosecutor has been awarded damages of nearly £136,000 for discrimination suffered at the hands of the Crown Prosecution Service.
Minster and NAHL results highlight changing shape of PI market
Just 12 law firms are responsible for 83% of claims lodged with the OIC portal as its impact on reshaping the personal injury market is laid clear by the results of leading practices.
Blog
Why housing disrepair claims against councils have leapt by nearly 400%
Housing disrepair claims against councils have surged dramatically in recent years, with some areas reporting increases approaching a staggering 400%.
Client accounts: Opportunity, obligation and the risks in between
The profitability gap between well-run firms and the rest is not primarily a function of size, location or practice area – it is a function of financial management.
Motor finance – the FCA is more worried about banks than consumers
The Financial Conduct Authority’s motor finance redress scheme announced last week amounts to one of the largest ever consumer failures by the regulator.
