Latest news
Barrister and ABS owner launches legal recruitment firm
A practising barrister and sole director of an alternative business structure has added a third string to his bow by launching a legal recruitment firm.
Compulsory ADR is lawful, says Civil Justice Council group
Any form of compulsory ADR which is “not disproportionately onerous and does not foreclose the parties’ effective access to the court” is lawful, an expert group has concluded.
Law firm boss avoid costs order after losing whistleblowing claim
A law firm chief executive who lost his claim that he was fired for making protected disclosures has escaped a costs order even though a tribunal said it had no reasonable prospects of success.
“Extraordinary things are happening” outside of traditional law firms
Professor Richard Susskind’s claim that the current model of alternative legal services providers has not delivered and needs to be rethought is premature, the boss of Radiant Law has argued.
Public supports stronger ongoing competence checks for lawyers
There is near unanimity among the public that lawyers should have to demonstrate more actively than now that they remain competent throughout their careers, the Legal Services Board has found.
Court scolds QC but decides against referring him to BSB
A QC who misused the urgent applications procedure for a Brexit-related judicial review has been ticked off by the Divisional Court but escaped being referred to the Bar Standards Board.
Pregnant trainee fails in claim over no post-qualification job offer
A solicitor who claimed she was not offered a job after completing her training contract because she was pregnant has lost her discrimination claim in the employment tribunal.
Court of Appeal boosts claimant PI solicitors with fixed-costs ruling
The Court of Appeal has handed a boost to claimant personal injury solicitors by applying the more generous fixed costs regime for cases where the claimant in a low-value matter dies.
Law firm swaps regulator after enduring “bumpy journey”
A family law practice started by two solicitors has divorced the Bar Standards Board as its regulator and taken up with the Solicitors Regulation Authority after difficulties beset the relationship.
Medico-legal market contracts as Covid hits PI cases
The value of the medico-legal market fell by 18% to £650m last year because of Covid reducing the number of new personal injury cases and slowing down those already in progress.
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.
