Latest news
New conveyancing ABS using chatbot to cut transaction times
A conveyancing alternative business structure launched last month aims to cut transaction times by at least a month, using a chatbot to help clients complete a seller’s pack.
Simpson Millar exits most of private client in profitability push
National firm Simpson Millar is to exit private client services except for personal injury and family law as part of a major restructure sparked in part by the introduction next year of fixed recoverable costs.
CMA orders break-up of property search giant
The merger of two of the four big property search providers “substantially lessens competition”, the Competition and Markets Authority has decided, ordering Dye & Durham to sell TM Group.
MPs’ watchdog takes on barristers too as new BSB chair
Kathryn Stone is to add overseeing the conduct of barristers to her current role as MPs’ watchdog after she was appointed chair of the Bar Standards Board.
OIC mixed claims: 14 months on and still no nearer the Court of Appeal
Little progress has been made in the plan to take test cases of so-called mixed claims from the Official Injury Claim portal to the Court of Appeal, it admitted yesterday.
SRA eyes in-house alternative to Solicitors Indemnity Fund after u-turn
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has said it believes “a new consumer protection arrangement within the SRA” was likely to be more cost-effective than retaining the Solicitors Indemnity Fund.
Solicitor found in criminal contempt for “act of colossal stupidity”
A senior City partner who told a client to “burn” a private messaging app after it was served with a search order has been found guilty of criminal contempt of court.
SRA to reinstate annual fee for 60,000 non-practising solicitors
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to go ahead with plans to reintroduce next April an annual application fee of up to £40 for non-practising solicitors who want to stay on the roll.
Judge throws out “career-ending” contempt claim against solicitor
A High Court judge has rejected a potentially “career-ending” contempt application against a solicitor, describing it as “wholly frivolous” and totally without merit.
Claim against solicitors was attempt to relitigate private prosecution
A professional negligence claim against a firm of solicitors in the North-East has been thrown out as an attempt to relitigate an unsuccessful private prosecution.
Blog
What is tech bloat and why is it a problem for law firms?
Too many law firms are adopting shiny new tech without first retiring their legacy systems, causing duplication and unnecessary costs.
The civil courts and the digital divide
Despite the government’s decision to increase Ministry of Justice funding, its budget for 2025-26 is still 14% lower in real terms than in 2007-08.
The Decent Homes Standard scandal
It is well established that the UK has the highest proportion of inadequate housing in all of Europe. But what if the heart of the problem is even worse than we think?
