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Judge rejects recusal in fees case involving firm that owes him money
A QC has rejected an application recuse himself from sitting as a deputy High Court judge in a case involving a law firm suing for unpaid fees that itself owes him fees.
Firm needed to show serious loss in bid for online reviewers’ identities
A law firm seeking the identities of people who posted negative reviews about it online would need to show it has suffered serious financial loss, a High Court judge has suggested.
Legal tech goes mainstream with compulsory law school course
Hundreds of law students at Manchester Metropolitan University have begun studying a digital skills course that is the first to be made a core requirement in an undergraduate law degree.
Judge throws cold water on “insignificant” data breach claims
The burgeoning field of data breach claims has taken a blow with a High Court judge saying the disclosure of a person’s name, gender and date of birth is not serious enough.
City firm to pay £1.5m over negligent advice on company sale
City firm Charles Russell Speechlys has been ordered to pay two former clients nearly £1.5m after a High Court judge found its advice on the sale of their company negligent.
High Court rejects online legal services provider’s claim against DAS
Online legal services provider Epoq has failed in a claim that it should have been paid an annual fee of £18 per customer by legal expenses insurer DAS, instead of little more than £1.
SRA’s respect rule “will fill gap” exposed by Beckwith ruling
The SRA’s proposed new rule requiring solicitors to treat colleagues with respect is in part aimed at filling a hole exposed by the prosecution of Ryan Beckwith, it was claimed yesterday.
Government seeks new LSB chair to help “reshape legal services”
The government has begun recruiting the fourth chair of the Legal Services Board, with the Lord Chancellor saying they would play a key role in “reshaping legal services”.
Solicitor removed restriction without beneficiary’s consent
A solicitor who amended a deed of trust to remove a beneficial interest has been rebuked for doing so without checking that the beneficiary had consented.
Long way to go – SRA unveils “unacceptable” ethnicity profile
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has a “long way to go” to improve the diversity of its senior management, it said as it published its ethnicity pay gap for the first time.
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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