Latest news
SRA rebukes Scottish firm over management of client money
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued a rebuke to a Scottish law firm for breaches of the accounts rules since taking over the work of collapsed McClure Solicitors.
MoJ warned about impact of diverting law firms’ client account interest
Legal aid firms will be the first to suffer if the Ministry of Justice presses ahead with the idea of using interest on lawyers’ client accounts to fund free legal services, it has been told.
Claimant lawyers accuse City law firm over class action “propaganda”
Claimant class action lawyers have accused a leading City law firm of doing the dirty work of the US Chamber of Commerce, which campaigns in the UK for pro-business civil justice reform.
Police office turned barrister disbarred for rape convictions
A barrister has been disbarred for raping a woman, when she was a teenager under 16 and when she was older, while he was a policeman in the 1980s.
Law firms “arrogant and complacent” in approach to non-legal staff
It is a “uniquely arrogant and complacent facet” of law firms that partners think some key business functions are “dispensible” support staff rather than core elements.
Lobby group to intervene on distribution of £10m in unclaimed damages
The CAT has granted business lobby group Fair Civil Justice permission to intervene in a hearing on how to distribute £10m not claimed in a collective action.
Ban for office manager who took nearly £550,000 from firm
A part-time office manager who misappropriated nearly £550,000 from a law firm has been banned from working in the profession.
Law firm to pay £105k over Plevin cases it failed to progress
A law firm which failed to uphold its side of a deal when taking on another practice’s Plevin cases has been ordered to pay it £105,000.
Two solicitors rebuked for taking client information when leaving firms
Two solicitors who took confidential client information from their former employers have been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Gender-critical barrister praises BSB approach to ‘meritless’ complaints
A leading ‘gender critical’ barrister has praised the Bar Standards Board for the way it handles “meritless” complaints after rejecting two made against her.
Blog
Whistleblowing guidance for in-house lawyers – a call to arms
In-house lawyers are in a unique position to spot wrongdoing. But reporting it is not just potentially dangerous from a personal point of view.
The importance of benchmarking reports – and lessons on profitability
Regional firms reported the largest revenue growth this year (12%), outpacing their City counterparts. Yet many are not converting that growth into profitability.
Fixed recoverable costs: Sacrificing justice for predictability?
The extended fixed recoverable costs regime is failing to achieve its stated objectives. Instead of promoting fairness and efficiency, the rules are creating anomalies that undermine justice.
