Latest news
Judge’s despair at solicitors acting “like schoolchildren in the playground”
The High Court has expressed its despair at solicitors conducting litigation “like schoolchildren in the playground”, as well as “pernicious” growth of satellite costs disputes.
“First collaborative conveyancing service” goes live
A pilot version of what its solicitor co-founder describes as the “first collaborative conveyancing service” has gone live. Eddie Goldsmith said it was about letting conveyancers “get on with the legal work”.
Report: Legal advice agencies facing £17.5m funding gap
Not-for-profit legal advice providers are facing a £17.5m funding deficit in the next financial year, according to research by the Access to Justice Foundation.
Law firm ordered to pay ex-employee £8,500 over racial harassment
A law firm has been ordered to pay a former staff member £8,500 in damages after finding that a colleague’s remark on her grandmother’s Chinese heritage amounted to racial harassment.
SRA warns law firms over “wholly unreasonable workloads”
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned law firms that imposing “wholly unreasonable workloads or targets” on staff could result in disciplinary action.
Bar chief: LSB competence push “risks infringing Legal Services Act”
The chair of the Bar Council has warned the Legal Services Board that it risks infringing the Legal Services Act if it demands that regulators impose new competence regimes without sufficient evidence.
Law students concerned by “low” SQE pass rate
The pass rate of 53% achieved by the first group of candidates to sit part one of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam is viewed as “low” by students, an SQE training provider has said.
Family law firm embraces employee ownership and plots big expansion
The founder of the latest firm to move to employee ownership said his decision was inspired by the co-operative movement as it aims to become the largest family law practice in the country.
Solicitor who used disbursement cash to prop up PI firm struck off
A solicitor who did not pay outstanding disbursements for seven years, using them instead to prop up his personal injury firm, has been struck off.
Pandemic hit lowest-earning barristers hardest as big pay gaps persist
The pandemic has had more of an impact on incomes at the lower-earning end of the Bar than among the big billers, according to new research by the Bar Standards Board.
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”.
