Latest news
Four in 10 pupils have experienced or witnessed bullying at the Bar
Nearly four in 10 pupils have either personally experienced or observed bullying, harassment and/or discrimination, Bar Council research has revealed.
SDT “does not have power” to revoke s43 orders made by SRA
Non-solicitors banned from working in law firms by the Solicitors Regulation Authority cannot apply for the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to revoke the order, the tribunal has decided.
Tech gives lawyers “opportunity to develop” emotional intelligence
Advanced technology gives lawyers “a wonderful opportunity to develop EQ” or emotional intelligence, the head of national firm Shoosmiths’ non-legal services division has said.
Motorhomes, car engines and gambling – now group sets up ABS
A diverse group of companies that includes motorhome hire and online gambling now has an alternative business structure in its ranks that aims to digitise the probate process.
Collective redress lawyers join forces amid calls for reform
Calls for long- and short-term reform to the group action regime yesterday marked the launch of the Collective Redress Lawyers Association, as a tribunal refused to certify two opt-out actions.
BSB scraps student aptitude test despite Bar Council opposition
The Bar Standards Board is to ditch the Bar course aptitude test as it is no longer acting as a “filter” of those likely to fail the vocational component of their training.
Smart legal contracts “need the power of the human mind”
A company specialising in the creation of smart legal contracts has argued for a substantial human component to remain to ensure that contracts are legally enforceable.
Firm’s error gave sex offender access to child’s confidential data
National law firm BLM has won a claim against a convicted sex offender it accidentally gave access to a vulnerable child’s confidential information and who then asked for money to delete it.
Legal aid work “close to being unsustainable”, new campaign warns
A new campaign for increased legal aid funding has been launched after the findings of a unique census showed the market will not be sustainable without more government action.
Lawyer-free divorce app leads spate of lawtech investments
An online service for separating couples who draft their own documents without lawyers has secured another £1.2m in funding, as we round up several significant investments in lawtech businesses.
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?
