Latest news
Company supporting children in care sets up law firm
A company providing transport and other services to children in care has set up an ABS to offer them legal services relating to issues involving family law, crime, housing and immigration.
Barrister failed to justify direct access client’s £420,000 bill
A direct access barrister who failed to justify fees for herself and a colleague of £420,000 plus VAT for a divorce hearing has been fined £5,000 by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.
Tribunal rejects claims from LAA solicitor in WhatsApp row
An employment tribunal has rejected claims from a solicitor at the Legal Aid Agency, disciplined after a heated WhatsApp exchange and a threat to share it with the Law Society.
Law firms in court dispute over identical web copy
A Bradford law firm has failed in an application for an order to force a firm in London to reveal who provided it with web copy that was identical to its own.
Barrister suspended for telling jury that judge was talking “rubbish”
A barrister who described a judge’s summary of a witness’s evidence as “absolute rubbish” and asked if the judge was giving evidence has been suspended for four months.
Law firm entitled to fire employee who “lost it” during meeting
A law firm was entitled to summarily dismiss an employee who lost control during an informal meeting with a manager about his behaviour towards other staff, an employment tribunal has ruled.
City law firm “unreasonably” refused offers to mediate negligence claim
City law firm Charles Russell Speechlys acted unreasonably in refusing to mediate a professional negligence claim that it ultimately lost, the High Court has ruled.
SRA should be able to fine much more than £25,000, LSB tells Raab
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s fining powers should go “considerably beyond” the proposed increase to £25,000, the Legal Services Board has told the Lord Chancellor.
Fine for male trainee who told female colleague: “I roofied your drink”
A trainee solicitor who subjected two female colleagues to “harassing and abusive behaviour” at a work Christmas party – groping them and telling one he had “roofied” her drink – has been fined.
Leading firm overlooks another employment claim made against it
“Systematic and human errors” at leading legal aid firm Duncan Lewis meant it failed to respond to a discrimination and constructive dismissal claim against it for six and a half months.
Blog
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
Law firms need to go beyond document checks
At the root of every failed compliance review is a familiar phrase: a calm assertion of “but we did a document check”.
