Latest news
S&G refunds £4,000 deduction in latest Checkmylegalfees clash
The latest battle between Slater & Gordon and Checkmylegalfees.com has seen the law firm refund £4,000 it deducted from a client’s damages where he was signed up to a CFA 97 seconds after receiving it.
First law firm deal for ‘House of brands’ group
Legal and professional services group Ampa – which owns Shakespeare Martineau – has made its first law firm acquisition since unveiling its innovative ‘house of brands’ strategy.
Judge slashes QC’s £110k brief fee for case that settled before trial
A costs judge has slashed the £110,000 brief fee sought by a claimant when his case settled nearly three weeks ahead of trial and before the QC had started preparing for it.
CILEX member permanently excluded after fraud convictions
A member of CILEX has been permanently excluded from the institute following her convictions for fraud and providing unqualified immigration advice.
LPC pass rate holds up despite pandemic
The pass rate for legal practice course students was virtually unchanged for the academic year ending in the summer of 2020 despite the pandemic, new figures have shown.
Advocates use ‘with respect’ in court as “marker of disrespect”
Advocates can use the word “respect” as “an implicit marker of disrespect” when addressing opposing counsel in court, academics have found.
Costs judges “can deal with disputes” over law firm retainers
There is no need for a dispute over a law firm’s fees to be transferred from the Senior Courts Costs Office to the Chancery Division simply because it involves the validity of a retainer, a costs judge has ruled.
Mishcon de Reya hit with big fine for anti-money laundering failures
Mishcon De Reya – the leading London firm heading for a stock market listing this year – has agreed to pay a fine of £232,500 over multiple breaches of anti-money laundering rules.
Record year for City partner recruitment in 2021
Last year was a record one for partner hires by City law firms, with the “legal boom” also triggering an associate salary war, legal recruitment consultants have reported.
Accountants finally fall into line on price transparency for probate work
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales is finally set to impose compulsory price transparency on the accountancy firms that offer probate services.
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?
