Latest news
SDT rejects non-lawyer partner’s appeal against ban
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has rejected an appeal from a non-lawyer partner banned by the SRA from being a manager of a law firm over a client account shortage.
Academy for aspiring barristers from under-represented groups goes live
An academy scheme for aspiring barristers from under-represented groups has launched a programme to give 100 students access to internships, mini-pupillages, mentoring and life coaching.
SFO lays out global web Schools used to hide Axiom cash
The Serious Fraud Office has laid out the complexity of its investigation into the Axiom Legal Financing Fund fraud, taking in eight countries, from the UK to the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific.
CPS entitled to cut pay of solicitor who moved north
The Crown Prosecution Service was entitled to cut the pay of a senior prosecutor who worked from home and moved from Bedford to the north-east, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Solicitor founder of Axiom fund faces jail after fraud conviction
The solicitor mastermind of the Axiom Legal Financing Fund was yesterday found guilty of five counts of fraud, fraudulent trading and money laundering, and told he faces a lengthy jail sentence
US lawyers uphold opposition to non-lawyer ownership of firms
The American Bar Association yesterday stressed its continuing opposition to non-lawyer ownership of law firms, with a key mover claiming it was “protecting the public from profiteers”.
Lawyers of the future “could face pressure to upgrade brains”
Lawyers of the future could face pressure to augment their “cognitive capacity” through neurotechnology if they want to become partners or meet client demands, a report for the Law Society has speculated.
Conveyancers “have duty to advise clients on climate risk” to properties
There is a “growing body of opinion” that conveyancers have a duty of care to advise clients on the risks climate change represents to property, it was claimed today.
Court of Appeal: No implied duty of good faith in solicitor’s retainer
There is no implied duty of good faith in a solicitor’s retainer, the Court of Appeal has ruled in rejecting an appeal by a law firm trying to recover £3m in fees from a former client.
Ex-partner fails in challenge to City firm’s accounts
A law firm was wrong to make provision in its statutory accounts for all of the money owed by a fixed-share partner, but not when it came to the partners’ accounts, the High Court has ruled.
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.
Reports
Associates
