Latest news
MoJ bids to help consumers better understand whiplash portal
The Ministry of Justice has published a simplified guide to using the Official Injury Claim portal in the wake of a low take-up by litigants in person. But there are still big obstacles.
Revolutionary Australian conveyancing platform to launch in the UK
Property Exchange Australia (PEXA), which processes 80% of conveyancing completions in Australia, has announced plans to launch in England and Wales this autumn.
Leading firm ditches training contracts for apprenticeships
Commercial law firm Hill Dickinson is to scrap training contracts for would-be solicitors and replace them with a graduate solicitor apprenticeship programme.
“Hysterical woman” barrister to argue free speech in reprimand appeal
The barrister reprimanded for describing his opponent’s instructing lawyer as a “hysterical woman” says he is being “persecuted for expressing inconvenient truths”.
Ex-Nissan solicitor ordered to hand over confidential documents
The solicitor who used to be Nissan’s global general counsel has been ordered to hand over confidential documents he said he retained to take legal advice.
Law Society backs “moderate” increase in SRA fining powers
The Law Society has backed a “moderate” increase in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s fining powers to between £5,000 to £7,500, rather than its proposed £25,000.
Press panel pleads with government to introduce legal costs incentive
The government’s failure to commence legislation on costs in libel and other publication proceedings is denying members of the public justice, the Press Recognition Panel has argued.
Specialist contentious probate law firm launches network and tech
A fast-growing law firm specialising only in contentious probate is launching a network to support non-specialist firms later this month, to be followed by two tech products.
Non-lawyer owner banned from ABSs over secret profit ruling
A non-lawyer owner of a law firm that has been hugely successful in running PPI claims has been banned from working for ABSs after he made secret profits from it.
LeO delays publishing decisions until it achieves “operational stability”
The Legal Ombudsman will publish its decisions in full, but not until “operational stability” has been achieved, it has emerged.
Blog
A letter from the SRA? Your first reaction matters
An email from the SRA has a way of rearranging a working day. It arrives in the same inbox as everything else, often in the same measured tone, yet it carries a different weight.
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.
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