Latest news
Litigation funding reform remains our intention, minister tells MPs
Litigation funding reform, the interest on lawyers’ client accounts scheme and the regulation of legal AI tools were all on the agenda for justice minister Sarah Sackman yesterday.
Claims firm expects winding-up petition to be dismissed
A North-West consumer claims law firm that was facing a winding-up petition has paid its debt and expects the matter to be formally concluded soon.
Consumers need “clearer signposting” to legal expenses insurance
There should be “clearer national signposting” to point consumers towards both legal advice services and insurance-backed provision, a report has recommended.
New family law service tackles misunderstanding around neurodivergency
A team of child protection solicitors have created a new family law service, specialising in support for parents and children with neurodivergent conditions.
Legal services lead way as government’s first AI Growth Lab
Legal services will be the first sector to join the government’s new AI Growth Labs – providing a regulatory sandbox for AI systems – justice secretary David Lammy announced yesterday.
LeO not set up to handle solicitor/client costs disputes – for now
The Legal Ombudsman is open to a discussion on it replacing the courts for costs disputes between solicitors and their clients – but would not be in a position to actually do it for some time.
“Burn it” solicitor suspended for two years
A senior City partner who told a client to “burn” a private messaging app after it was served with a search order has been suspended for two years.
AI legal assistants to help speed up work of Crown Court
The government is to develop AI legal assistants to speed up the work of the Crown Court as one of a series of new technology projects announced today.
LeO eyes case fee and scheme rule reform as complaints climb
The Legal Ombudsman will this month set out stronger incentives for lawyers to resolve complaints by reforming the operation of the case fee regime, Legal Futures can reveal.
Increasing number of lawyers view SRA negatively
The legal profession’s negativity about the Solicitors Regulation Authority has increased markedly, but most are still positive about it, according its own research.
Blog
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
