Latest news
Court rejects contempt bid over solicitor’s witness statement error
The High Court has rejected an application to begin contempt proceedings against a solicitor over what it said was a simple error in a witness statement.
Court orders judge’s recusal due to “business association” with defendant
The High Court has ruled that a circuit judge should not hear any more of a claim against HSBC because his own relationship with the bank raised the risk of apparent bias.
Unrepentant barrister disbarred for breaking Supreme Court embargo
The barrister found in contempt of court by the Supreme Court after he released its embargoed ruling on the planned third runway for Heathrow airport has now been disbarred.
And then there were two – SRA shuts another Metamorph firm
The Solicitors Regulation Authority last week closed down yet another firm in the Metamorph Law Group, leaving just two still operating.
Firm handed largest-ever fine for transparency rules non-compliance
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has fined a law firm that did not comply with its transparency rules £3,500, the highest penalty it has issued for the offence.
CA rules for claimants in mixed injuries cases – but uncertainty remains
The Court of Appeal’s ruling today on how to value mixed personal injury claims in the Official Injury Claim portal has not provided sufficient clarity, some lawyers have warned.
Major legal aid practice sold for just £200,000 upfront in pre-pack
A large legal aid practice with a £10m turnover was sold to a consolidator in a pre-pack just before Christmas for only £200,000 upfront, it has emerged. But the jobs of all 80 staff were saved.
BSB returns to “part fund” Legal Choices website
Legal Choices, the consumer-facing website which since 2019 has been paid for by all the legal regulators apart from the Bar Standards Board, is now receiving “part funding” from the BSB.
MPs criticise rugby bosses for response to club owner’s SDT sanction
MPs have criticised the Rugby Football Union for not taking action against an owner of a leading club who was banned from working for law firms.
Government to give SRA power to demand more information from firms
The government is to extend the SRA’s powers to demand information from solicitors and firms beyond money laundering matters to economic crime more generally.
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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