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Vos: Online justice will make compulsory mediation debate moot
The question of whether mediation should be mandatory will become moot in the digital justice system currently being built, the Master of the Rolls said last week.
Call to beef up rules on discrimination and harassment by barristers
The rules against discrimination and harassment by barristers need to be strengthened by removing the requirement that the actions be unlawful, two QCs have argued.
Pure Legal’s unsecured creditors set to recover little of £23m owed
The prospects of unsecured creditors of Pure Legal recovering any of the £23m they are owed have dimmed significantly in the first six months of its administration.
Law firm fails in summary judgment bid over negligence claim
A law firm being sued for more than £2m over a failure to advise properly has failed in its bid for summary judgment over several of the allegations made against it.
Axiom Law enters regulation for first time with US ABS
Leading alternative legal services provider Axiom Law has moved into regulated services for the first time after being granted an ABS licence in the US state of Arizona.
Initiative extends pro bono opportunities to firms’ business services staff
A new initiative extending pro bono opportunities to business operations professionals at large law firms has gone live, linking them with third sector organisations needing volunteers.
Judge calls for guidance on rights of unqualified agency advocates
County court judges would benefit from “more authoritative guidance” from the higher courts on whether unqualified solicitor’s agents have rights of audience, a circuit judge has said.
Partner fined after charitable trusts used client account as bank
A charity law specialist who allowed two charitable trusts to use his firm’s client account as a banking facility has been fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Regulators must tackle “out-of-date” lawyers, LSB says
Regulators must take action to ensure that lawyers are not operating with “out-of-date” skills or knowledge, the Legal Services Board has said.
FCA toughens up new claims management company ‘phoenixing’ ban
The Financial Conduct Authority is going ahead with a tougher version of a ban on ‘phoenixing’ by financial services claims management companies, which will come into force next month.
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.
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