Latest news
Surge in income but not profits for smaller law firms
The average fee income per equity partner at law firms with up to seven partners rose by 29% last year despite the pandemic, research has found. But profit per equity partner was static, with margins tumbling.
SDT clears pro-Beijing lawyer over “kill protestors” allegation
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has rejected allegations that a pro-Beijing lawyer and politician based in Hong Kong called for pro-independence protestors to be “killed mercilessly”.
Budget: Get ready for a very busy six months, conveyancers told
Conveyancers are facing more cliff edges and greater pressures on their practices following Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to extend the stamp duty holiday.
Law Society president steps down ahead of SDT hearing
The president of the Law Society is to step down later this month in the wake of a High Court ruling that the SDT was wrong to dismiss a prosecution brought against him by a former client.
Legal aid fraud solicitor fails to set aside £5m judgment
A solicitor and her practice manager husband jailed for legal aid fraud have failed in their bid to set aside a default judgment for nearly £5m obtained by the Ministry of Justice.
Bar Council chair rejects challenge from Twitter row barrister
The chair of the Bar Council has dismissed as nonsense the suggestion that it had to publicly support the barrister at the centre of a racism row over his comments on Twitter.
Senior solicitor wins libel claim over misconduct allegations
A senior solicitor at the Environment Agency has won his libel action against the owners of a garden centre business who accused him of professional misconduct in prosecuting one of them.
NAH to step up transformation from claims company to law firm
NAHL – the listed company that owns National Accident Helpline – is to step up its transformation from a claims management company into a law firm, it told investors yesterday.
Don’t prejudge Official Injury Claim portal, MIB boss urges lawyers
The Official Injury Claim portal is 98% complete, the chief executive of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau revealed today as he urged claimant solicitors not to dismiss the system prematurely.
City firm avoids order to pay out escrow funds due to prosecution risk
A major City law firm should not be ordered to pay into court $325m it is holding in an escrow account, because it risks being prosecuted in America if it does, the High Court has ruled.
Blog
Reorientation in the AI era must begin with the client
Much of the discussion about AI in the legal industry focuses on technology: which tools to adopt and which tasks might get automated. But this misses the deeper story.
Awaab’s Law phase 2: New hazards council tenants can now claim for
The conversation on housing disrepair is moving beyond damp and mould alone. With the rollout of phase 2 of Awaab’s Law, the scope of issues covered is expanding significantly,
Beyond PCP: Can regulators and lawyers work better together next time?
Nearly a decade after the Financial Conduct Authority began investigating the car finance industry, the story of the PCP commission scandal is still unfinished.
