Latest news
Costs lawyers call for revived remuneration certificate procedure
The Association of Costs Lawyers has proposed working with the Law Society and Legal Ombudsman to revive a 1990s procedure as an alternative way for clients to challenge smaller solicitors’ bills.
Law firm did not discriminate against disabled paralegal
An employment tribunal has rejected disability discrimination claims made against a Welsh law firm by a paralegal dismissed after just nine days for his poor timekeeping.
Solicitor agrees to leave roll over advice to disgraced bishop
A solicitor who acted in a conflict of interest when advising a then bishop over allegations of sexual misconduct was “partly” to blame for the Church of England not taking stronger action against him.
Legal regulators “need to work on building trust” with their communities
Legal regulators can reduce the amount of enforcement work they need to undertake if they can build enough trust that lawyers will approach them before things go wrong, an event has heard.
SRA hires competition specialist to drive strategy
A competition specialist is to join the Solicitors Regulation Authority as its new executive director for strategy and innovation, while the LSB’s policy chief is leaving to oversee bailiffs.
Law PLC has its worst year as all listed firms’ share prices fall
Not a single listed law firm saw its share price end 2022 higher than a year earlier, with some very big falls, the annual Legal Futures analysis of ‘Law PLC’ has revealed.
Legal TV dramas “influence career choice” of law firm staff
Just over half of UK law firm staff in a survey believe TV legal dramas influenced their career choice, the most influential being US series Suits.
Solicitor shifted client money around to cover mistakes
A partner who used client funds to make payments for other clients – on occasion to hide the fact that they had been made subject to costs orders – has been struck off.
Fee-share practice brings whole firm on board for first time
The growth of fee-share law firm arch.law has continued with the addition of a five-strong London practice onto the platform, the first firm to join its network.
Pioneering employee-owned law firm becomes B Corp
The first employee owned law firm in the country has now become a B Corporation, saying it is part of a movement to prove “there is a better way to do business”.
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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