Latest news
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.
Choose your submissions wisely, says judge in time-estimate warning
The judge in charge of the Commercial Court has complained again about inadequate time estimates, telling advocates they cannot ask judges to read authorities after the hearing as a shortcut.
Legal regulators should not be “overly risk averse” about technology
Legal regulators must not be “overly risk adverse” in supporting the use of technology, given its importance, a senior figure at the Legal Services Board has said.
BSB panel rejects complaints over barrister’s Royal baby tweets
A Bar Standards Board panel has rejected more than 80 complaints made against a barrister accused of making racist comments on Twitter about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby last year.
Ex-Law Society president fails in bid to strike out SDT case
David Greene, the former president of the Law Society, has failed in his attempt to halt a private prosecution of him at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, although its scope has been narrowed.
“Vested interests” of solicitors holding back ADR, government told
Solicitors’ “vested interests in pursuing lengthy litigation” are holding back the take-up of ADR, the government has been told. Their “adversarial language” was also viewed as aggravating tensions.
Blog
Your website is losing clients before they even pick up the phone
Your website visitor is likely already carrying stress before they arrive. If your site adds to it rather than relieves it, you have likely lost a prospective client.
The growing importance of higher limits in personal ATE
While the personal litigation market is undergoing a period of significant change as claims become more complex, much of the ATE insurance market has remained relatively static.
The profession can play a greater role in improving access to justice
In this, the third blog of my series, I focus on what lawyers in the UK can do to improve access to justice through greater professional stewardship.
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