Latest news
Law Society calls in leading figures to support ’21st century justice’ project
The Law Society has pulled together figures from law firms, technology, NGOs and business to support a project looking at how the justice system can be made “fit for the future”.
“Manifestly incompetent” solicitor missed red flags on dubious deals
An experienced solicitor who failed to react to a series of red flags on two dubious property sales has admitted to being manifestly incompetent. He and his supervisor were fined.
Khan receives second jail term for SRA order contempt
Former solicitor Sophie Khan is heading to jail for a second time for contempt of court after again failing to hand over documents sought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
SME firms performing well even though chargeable hours fall
Small and mid-sized law firms had a good year financially in 2021/22 but could perform better still if their fee-earners were billing the hours they should, research has found.
Unregulated paralegal firm “conducted litigation” in possession claim
A CILEX member running an unregulated business conducted litigation in breach of the Legal Services Act 2007 when she acted on a possession claim, the High Court has ruled.
PE-backed family law firm makes second acquisition in a year
A second acquisition in a year by private equity-owned Stowe Family Law leads the way in our round-up of the latest activity among alternative business structures.
Solicitor kept £60,000 of client funds as cash in firm’s safe
A solicitor who kept £60,000 of client funds in cash in the firm’s safe has been banned indefinitely from managing law firms.
New Zealand urged to embrace ABSs and independent regulation
A review of legal services in New Zealand has recommended the introduction of alternative business structures and an independent regulator.
Solicitor lost £230k of client money after falling for investment scam
A solicitor who lost £230,000 of a client’s money by moving it into her personal bank account and then investing in a scheme which turned out to be a scam has been struck off.
Clients “holding City law firms to account on diversity”
Clients are holding City law firms to account on diversity and firms that fail to respond to this pressure will lose work, the chair of the City of London Law Society has said.
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.
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