Latest news
Sunak “undermining trust in lawyers”, says Bar Council
The Bar Council has accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of undermining trust in the profession by claiming that a “subset of lawyers” are exploiting illegal migrants for profit.
National Lottery provides £30m “essential funding” for advice agencies
The National Lottery is to give £30m over five years to advice agencies as they face “unprecedented demand” for social welfare law services as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.
Leading law firm working capital provider goes into administration
Leading law firm funding business VFS Legal has gone into administration, with its founder telling Legal Futures that a change in its wholesale funder was the cause.
Government to introduce compulsory mediation for small claims
The Ministry of Justice is to introduce compulsory mediation for small claims valued up to £10,000, starting with specified money claims.
CMA launches investigation into unregulated legal services
The Competition & Markets Authority has returned to the legal market and launched an investigation into unregulated will-writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services.
Law Society presses lenders for more Building Safety Act changes
The Law Society is pushing for more changes to the building safety provisions in the UK Finance Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook after one was made last week.
MPs and their staff “need training on legal issues”
MPs and their caseworkers need training on legal issues, a LawWorks report has argued, after research found that three-quarters of issues raised by constituents have a legal element.
Dentons to face disciplinary tribunal over AML “failures”
The world’s largest law firm is to be prosecuted before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over alleged breaches of anti-money laundering rules.
MoJ increasing new fixed costs to reflect high rate of inflation
The Ministry of Justice is to increase the new fixed recoverable costs coming into force on 1 October to take account of the high rate of inflation, and is consulting on other changes.
It is also consulting on a range of further changes to the regime
“Risk of conflicting duties” in following SRA Proceeds of Crime Act guidance
Solicitors need to tread carefully in applying new Solicitors Regulation Authority guidance on the Proceeds of Crime Act as they could find themselves in conflict with existing obligations.
Blog
Information isn’t oversight – lessons from the PM Law review
The PM Law review’s real findings perhaps point to a failure mode applying to any organisation sitting on scattered risk information.
AI can do the work but it cannot inherit the lawyer’s duty
What happens when lawyers delegate cognitive work to AI but remain personally responsible for judgements they may no longer have independently reasoned through?
How to make work experience meaningful
When I had the pleasure of work experience, I made tea, collected lunch and mostly watched someone work. I didn’t bother with the last three days. I am not sure they noticed.
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