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SRA on lookout for solicitors “borrowing” from client money to pay bills
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is braced for solicitors looking to borrow from client account to help pay their bills in the face of a worsening economy, its chief executive said yesterday.
Burnett: “I can’t magic up lawyers to help reduce Crown Court backlog”
It will be “very difficult” for the Crown Court to achieve the government’s target of reducing the backlog to 53,000 cases by 2025, the Lord Chief Justice has warned MPs.
Half of expert witnesses would reject “highly contentious” cases
Half of expert witnesses would refuse to act in “highly contentious” matters, such as those involving transgender issues, a survey has found.
Birss: Why can’t costs budgets be based on solicitors’ estimates?
The estimates solicitors are required by their professional rules to give to clients should form the basis of costs budgets, the deputy head of civil justice has argued.
Mid-sized commercial firms “need to shout” about their tech offering
Mid-sized commercial law firms need to shout more about how they use technology to help clients, according to a survey that found most say “nothing at all publicly” about it.
LSB promises regulators “greater autonomy” in performance regime
The Legal Services Board has promised the frontline legal regulators “greater autonomy” in its the framework it will use to assess regulators’ progress.
Finnish contract platform launches in the UK
A Finnish contract automation service that aims to be “the most user-friendly legal services platform on the planet” has launched in the UK.
Culture-focused multi-disciplinary practice absorbs Yorkshire law firm
An innovative multi-disciplinary practice focused on the cultural, creative and not-for-profit sectors has expanded its range of legal services by absorbing a North Yorkshire law firm.
Questions about Metamorph intensify after Beaumont Legal sale
Questions over what is happening at consolidator Metamorph have intensified after its executive chairman ceased to be a director but remains one at the law firm that has taken over Beaumont Legal.
Insurer attitudes forcing more companies to sue for payouts
Companies are three times more likely to have to sue their insurers for not paying out a claim than they were just five years ago, ground-breaking research has found.
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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