Latest news
Solicitor struck off after cutting out partners from running of firm
A solicitor who misused client money after excluding his accountants from his firm’s financial processes and cutting out his salaried partners too has been struck off.
Covid not good enough reason for solicitors missing court deadline
The disruption caused by Covid last year was not a good enough excuse for a law firm missing a deadline to file amended particulars of claim by four months, the High Court has ruled.
Clients committed to jail for contempt over unpaid solicitors’ bills
Two clients who owe their solicitors £2.3m in outstanding fees, costs and interest have been committed to prison having been found guilty of 14 charges of contempt of court.
Partners want to work less but have more time for unbillable activities
Three in 10 partners at large firms are unhappy with their working hours, with many also not keen to undertake non-billable work unrelated to business development, research has found.
Trainee successfully appeals rebuke over “inappropriate” Christmas card
A male trainee solicitor at Dentons has successfully appealed a rebuke from the SRA over a sexually suggestive Christmas card he left on the desk of a female colleague.
Unregulated firm uses AI to offer clients debt repayment guarantee
An unregulated law firm is offering businesses a “highly automated” debt recovery service that guarantees debts of up to £5,000 that go to court will be repaid, by the firm if not the debtor.
Law students pledge to boycott top firm for “shielding polluters”
Law students are signing a pledge to boycott a leading US law firm because of its work “shielding corporate polluters from climate accountability”.
Top 50 law firms heading for “two-track” future
Variations in progress among the top 50 law firms over the past five years is leading to a “two-track” market where one group is likely to “accelerate past” the rest, a report has argued.
“Diligent and caring solicitor” was not dishonest over medical reports
A personal injury lawyer who the SRA accepted was a “diligent and caring solicitor” but was under “significant pressure” from his employer has been cleared of dishonesty by a tribunal.
Leading Conservative MP outlines worries about state of county court
The Conservative chairman of the justice select committee has spoken out about the problems in the county court, saying civil justice is “nowhere near high enough up the agenda”.
Blog
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
Linklaters’ chief growth officer takes the ‘blank sheet’ challenge
In the third and final part of this series, Lucy Murphy, chief growth officer at magic circle firm Linklaters, outlines her vision for the law firm of the future.
The ‘blank sheet’ challenge, part 2 – what would you do differently?
In the second part of this blog series, Shainul Kassam, managing director of small London firm Fortune Law, sets out how she would set up a law firm now.
