Latest news
Race equality and inclusion in law firms “totally achievable”
Bonuses for managers could be made contingent on improvements in social mobility and the representation of minority ethnic people in law firms, it was suggested yesterday.
Bar Council: Positive action like ‘preferential briefing’ can aid diversity
Positive action – such as giving female barristers preferential access to briefs after returning to chambers from career breaks – can help address diversity problems, the Bar Council says.
LeO warns over emerging trend of holiday sickness complaints
The Legal Ombudsman has warned law firms against making holiday sickness claims without “verifying the version of events” obtained by claims management companies as complaints rise.
Law Society conveyancing scheme a “barrier to competition”
The Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme is a “market barrier”, blocking entry to non-solicitor law firms, the Competition and Markets Authority has been told.
Solicitor apprentices train while boosting advice agency
One of the oldest legal advice centres in the country has been given a boost by taking advantage of the new path to qualifying as a solicitor by employing six apprentices.
More mergers mark start of new insurance year
A host of mergers and acquisitions have been announced now that the 1 October deadline that most firms still stick to for their insurance renewal has passed, following a series unveiled last month.
“Manifestly incompetent” partner suspended over client cash
A “manifestly incompetent” partner, whose “neglect and carelessness” led to a shortage in her law firm’s client account of £214,000, has been suspended for 18 months.
SRA: transparency rules compliance “improving”
Compliance with the rules on price and service transparency is improving but a stubborn minority are facing disciplinary action, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said.
Leeds bids to rival London for lawtech as ABSs thrive
Leeds is poised to become a lawtech innovation powerhouse, according to a report saying there is competition building for established practices among non-traditional providers of legal services.
Gunnercooke develops associate and multi-disciplinary offerings
Leading virtual law firm gunnercooke is ramping up its offering to associates as well as creating multi-disciplinary specialist consultancies in the next stage of its growth.
Blog
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.
Accountability has to live within governance, not with one person
The assumption has long been that a COLP or COFA is personally exposed to the consequences of anti-money laundering breaches.
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.
