Latest news
Bar courses still unaffordable, students tell regulator
Nearly four in five Bar students still regard their courses as unaffordable despite an average drop of £4,700 in fees, research for the Bar Standards Board has found.
New duty on licensed conveyancers to treat customers fairly
An explicit requirement on licensed conveyancers to treat customers fairly has been adopted by their regulator as part of a revised set of ethical standards.
Leading firms sign up to rainmaker programme for female lawyers
Some 40 leading law firms have so far signed up to an e-mentoring programme that aims to help female lawyers gain the business development skills they need to become rainmakers.
Solicitor “grossly abused his position” to dupe investors
A solicitor sacked by national firm Blake Morgan during his probationary period “grossly abused his position” by duping two investors into handing over money on the basis he was still working there.
Law firm offers staff free menopause diagnosis service
National law firm TLT is launching a free menopause diagnosis service for all female staff today to coincide with International Women’s Day.
Law Society gender pay gap shrinks but rises for ethnicity
The Law Society’s gender pay gap shrank last year to a median of 4.7%, much lower than the national average, but its ethnicity pay gap almost doubled to 15.6%.
Partner secretly worked on deal with his firm on opposite side
An experienced partner who secretly worked on the purchase of a property where his firm was acting for the seller has been fined £32,000 for a lack of integrity.
Competition law to grow fastest among practice areas
Demand for competition law will grow fastest this year, while the markets for private client and criminal law shrink slightly, research has predicted.
MoJ “must publish data on unrepresented defendants”
The Ministry of Justice must publish basic information on unrepresented defendants in magistrates’ courts, a group that campaigns to improve public data has said.
Solicitor apprenticeships launched for part-qualified legal professionals
The first solicitor apprenticeship scheme has been launched which is specifically designed for paralegals part-way through qualifications with other legal bodies.
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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