Latest news
“Postcode lottery” with civil cases waiting up to 15 months for CCMCs
Fast-track and multi-track civil cases are taking between five and 15 months to complete their first case and costs management conference, depending on the court, research has found.
IBA project to probe role of lawyers as “ethical gatekeepers”
The International Bar Association has launched a project to examine the role of lawyers as “ethical gatekeepers” within wider society and help clarify their ethical responsibilities at work.
Last-minute damages claim portal reprieve for defendants
The plan by HM Courts & Tribunals to make the new damages claim portal compulsory for defendants from 2 June was pulled at the last minute for unknown reasons.
Email phishing and ransomware on the rise, SRA warns firms
Email-based fraud is on the rise and is the dominant method criminals use to access law firms’ systems, with ransomware was also increasing and evolving, according to the SRA.
Appeal judge deprecates litigators who display their “machismo”
A Court of Appeal judge has deprecated litigators who display their “machismo” but found that a party’s approach to enforce a non-compete covenant went “too far in the opposite direction”.
Lawyers “underestimate public appetite” for using technology
Lawyers underestimate the public’s appetite for using technology in the delivery of legal services, a major study by the Legal Services Board and Solicitors Regulation Authority has found.
Fixed-fee family law information service aims to “fill knowledge gap”
A fixed-fee family law information service was launched this week to “fill a real gap in public knowledge” about the divorce process, and ensure people are properly informed before seeing a solicitor.
Solicitor who did not understand her firm’s accounts suspended
A solicitor who told the Solicitors Regulation Authority that she had “fucked up” her law firm’s accounts has been suspended for six months by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
MedCo looks to shift balance between tier 1 and 2 MROs
MedCo is to hold talks with the Ministry of Justice over whether the balance between tier 1 and 2 medical reporting organisations offered to claimants needs to be changed.
Government to keep lawyers out of Russia services ban
The government has indicated that legal services will not be added to the ban on services exports to Russia that encompasses accountancy, management consultancy and PR.
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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