Latest news
Appeal judges uphold law firm’s entitlement to £300,000 fixed fee
The Court of Appeal has upheld an award of £300,000 to a small central London law firm owed under a retainer which the client had claimed was not payable.
MPs playing “little recognised role” by providing access to justice
MPs in Westminster and members of the Senedd Cymru are playing a “little recognised role” in providing access to justice for people with social welfare problems.
Carr appointed first ever female Lord Chief Justice
Dame Sue Carr was yesterday appointed the first female Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, just three years after joining the Court of Appeal.
City solicitor apprentice initiative “could snowball”
An initiative by 50 City law firms to increase the number of solicitor apprentices “could snowball”, the chair of the City of London Law Society training committee has predicted.
Bar chair calls for private prosecutions rethink after Post Office scandal
It is time to look “very carefully” at whether those who “regarded themselves as victims” should be able to bring private prosecutions in the wake of the Post Office scandal.
SLAPPs reform to remove costs risk from defending claims
The government looks set to remove the costs risk from defending cases found to be SLAPPs and will in time extend the curbs it announced on Tuesday beyond economic crime.
Role of Lord Chancellor “at risk of being downgraded”
The role of Lord Chancellor is “at risk of being downgraded” because the operation of the courts is now “only a very small part” of what the office-holder does, the Lord Chief Justice has warned.
Unregulated legal services firms “want more regulation”
Most unregulated legal services firms support “some aspects of regulation” for their areas but there is not a clear case for major reform, a report for the SRA has concluded.
Solicitor struck off after police Grindr sting
A solicitor caught in a police sting while using gay dating app Grindr and convicted of attempted sexual communication with a child has been struck off.
Barrister jailed for obtaining drugs from criminal clients
A barrister infamous for his conviction for possession of drugs that led to the death of his boyfriend has been jailed for 14 months after obtaining drugs from clients he was representing.
Blog
Regulate sole practices on evidence, not turnover
For a sole practice, the SRA’s plan that I cannot hold a compliance role if my firm has more than £600,000 of turnover is not a measure of risk. It is a ceiling on growth.
Is Google becoming pay-to-play for law firms?
For years, law firms have been told that SEO is the long-term alternative to paying for every click. That principle hasn’t disappeared but search results have changed significantly.
Material information and the case for intelligent client onboarding
Upfront information means work traditionally undertaken after an offer is accepted will need to happen earlier. And that fundamentally changes the role of client onboarding.
Reports
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