Latest news
Australian law firm targets UK SMEs with unlimited subscription service
A tech-driven Australian law firm offering SMEs unlimited, on-demand legal services on a subscription basis has set up in the UK, aiming to be the most visited law firm website within three years.
Traditional partnerships dying out as ABSs top 1,000
The traditional partnership is now the least popular form of law firm structure, while alternative business structures now make up more than 10% of all practices, new figures have shown.
BSB prosecutions of striking barristers “unlikely to succeed”
The Bar Standards Board would be “ill advised” to take disciplinary action against barristers who take part in the strike action over legal aid rates, as dozens of QCs complain about the Lord Chief Justice.
Firms that embrace innovation will be organic growth winners
It will be the law firms that embrace innovation which will maximise organic growth opportunities and create an offering that sets them apart from the competition, a new report has found.
Lord Chief Justice and BSB warn striking barristers of disciplinary risks
The Bar Standards Board has told striking barristers that it will focus in particular on any harm caused, following the Lord Chief Justice’s warning that their actions may amount to misconduct
SRA seeks whistleblowing role as part of SLAPPs action
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is set to make it easier for law firm staff to blow the whistle on their employers, as part of its work on SLAPPs – of which it is investigating more than 20.
Costs lawyers urged to play bigger role in “out of control” market
The whole profession needs to address “out of control” legal costs, a major new report has concluded, but costs lawyers have a significant role to play in exerting downward pressure on them.
SRA reports £161m of suspect transactions by law firms to NCA
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has reported £161m worth of suspect transactions involving the profession to the National Crime Agency, with failures to check the source of funds the main trigger.
Most female lawyers believe they will not experience pay equality
Most female lawyers (84%) believe that gender pay equality will not be achieved until after they retire and that firms’ commitment is more about headlines than real change.
Family specialists choose employee ownership over acquisition
The founders of a specialist family law firm have spurned potential acquirors to transfer it instead into an employee ownership trust, saying the move sends a positive signal to would-be staff.
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?
