Latest news
Witness tried to give remote evidence while driving a van
A witness who tried to give evidence by video, first in a van and then in a busy office, shows what can go wrong with remote hearings, a judge has warned.
No ignoring smart contracts, say LawtechUK and Master of the Rolls
Smart contracts could plug a leak worth tens of millions of pounds from the revenues of UK companies caused by paper-based and manual contracting, an event held yesterday heard.
Court of Appeal to start again in test case on deductions from PI damages
The much-anticipated hearing in Belsner was scrapped yesterday after the Court of Appeal raised the possibility that pre-action legal work was contentious business for costs purposes.
Solicitor who sacked employee over harassment claim fails in appeal
A solicitor who sacked a member of staff after she complained he had persistently harassed her while she was off sick has lost his appeal against an unfair dismissal ruling.
Solicitors convicted of fraud ordered to repay £205,000
Two solicitors who were jailed for stealing thousands of pounds from their firm have now been ordered to pay back more than £200,000.
QC among buyers of “less itchy” vegan wigs
A QC is among the first buyers of a new hemp wig, made without the traditional horse hair and developed by a vegan barrister, as the debate over whether wigs should be compulsory has heated up.
“Reckless” solicitor fined for role in scheme offering 1,000% return
A veteran solicitor who provided banking facilities through his client account for a scheme promising investors a 1,000% return has been fined.
Aged debt and more write-offs – larger law firms count cost of Covid
The vast majority of larger UK law firms have been hit by delays in settling clients’ bills since the pandemic began, with 73% increasing billing write-offs, a report has found.
Watchdog clears legal app over using ‘shyster’ in TV advert
The Advertising Standards Authority has rejected a complaint about a TV advert for legal support app Legal Utopia using the word “shyster”.
Mishcon takes next step in IPO plan by naming independent directors
Four experienced non-executive directors have been added to the board of Mishcon de Reya Group PLC as part of its continued preparations for going public.
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?
