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BTAS beefs up sanctions for sexual misconduct further still
The Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service has gone a step further in toughening up its sanctions guidance for barristers found to have been involved in sexual misconduct and discrimination.
Senior CPS barrister was victim of disability discrimination
The Crown Prosecution Service as admitted discriminating against a disabled senior prosecutor by failing to allow him to work from home or return home early to take medication for a heart condition.
Direct access business goes bust “leaving clients out out pocket”
An eight-year-old direct access business that said it could save clients half or more of the cost of a solicitor through its fixed-fee unbundled service has gone into liquidation.
City firm faces retrial of successful fees claim over pleadings failure
City law firm Charles Russell Speechlys is facing a retrial of a £50,000 claim for fees it thought it had won because it did not properly plead the existence of an implied retainer.
Seven in ten legal sector workers suffer from poor mental health
Seven out of ten legal sector workers (69%) describe themselves as suffering from poor mental health, with their union saying it showed a “crisis” in the law.
Supreme Court rejects barrister’s contempt of Supreme Court appeal
The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by a barrister against a £5,000 fine for contempt of court after he released a draft version of its ruling on the planned third runway for Heathrow airport.
Consumer panel “uncertain” over future of Legal Ombudsman
The Legal Services Consumer Panel is “uncertain” whether radical measures being considered by the Legal Ombudsman to cut its backlog of complaints will deliver sufficient change.
“Eminently reckless” solicitor had misplaced belief in lawyer fraudster
A solicitor who had a “misplaced belief” in the honesty and integrity of another solicitor jailed for fraud has been fined £30,000 over multiple rule breaches that resulted.
Microsoft offers financial bonus to firms that meet its diversity targets
Law firms instructed by Microsoft will be eligible for a bonus of up to 3% of their annual fees next year if they meet the diversity targets set by the technology behemoth.
Doctors up in arms over ‘pre-conception negligence’ ruling
Hundreds of doctors around the country have spoken out over the High Court finding a GP negligent for advice given to a mother before conception which led to the birth of a disabled child.
Blog
Your website is losing clients before they even pick up the phone
Your website visitor is likely already carrying stress before they arrive. If your site adds to it rather than relieves it, you have likely lost a prospective client.
The growing importance of higher limits in personal ATE
While the personal litigation market is undergoing a period of significant change as claims become more complex, much of the ATE insurance market has remained relatively static.
The profession can play a greater role in improving access to justice
In this, the third blog of my series, I focus on what lawyers in the UK can do to improve access to justice through greater professional stewardship.
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