Latest news
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.
Solicitor judge rejects recusal call based on professional ties
A solicitor High Court judge has rejected an application to recuse himself in a case against Simmons & Simmons made on the basis of his support for other solicitors and tenuous links to that firm.
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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