Latest news
Government set to raise judicial retirement age
The mandatory retirement age for judges looks set to be increased by either two or five years in order to deal with shortfalls in judicial recruitment, under government plans unveiled yesterday.
Law firms coming out of lockdown “in fighting mood”
Law firms “acted quickly, made sound business decisions, and put cash first” in their response to Covid-19 and are now “coming out fighting”, according to new research.
Barrister ordered to hand over Twitter account details
A barrister has been ordered to hand over details of who else had access to a controversial Twitter account that harassed activists campaigning against antisemitism in the Labour Party.
Legal regulators “too slow” with diversity action
Progress by the legal regulators in understanding and tackling ongoing inequalities in the profession is “too slow” and lacks “strategic direction”, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has said. The oversight regulator said there were “fundamental shortcomings” in the collection of… Read More
Lessons of Covid “making for better in-house lawyers”
Covid-19 has taught in-house lawyers about the importance of being trusted advisers, using technology for low-risk work, and making data-driven decisions, according to a new report.
Legal Ombudsman delays creep up again
The waiting time for the Legal Ombudsman simply to start considering a complaint has nearly halved over the past year but it was still 90 days before the pandemic struck.
Top GC defends in-house lawyers’ approach to ethics
A leading general counsel has attacked the assumption that in-house lawyers “leave their morals at the door” when they join their companies.
MPs call on SRA to investigate City firm over bank scandal
City giant Herbert Smith Freehills either compromised its independence or provided incompetent advice in its work for Lloyds Banking Group on the Reading scandal, a group of MPs and peers has claimed.
National Lottery awards £5m to Community Justice Fund
The Community Justice Fund, an initiative between the Access to Justice Foundation and five other leading social welfare funders, has been awarded a £5m grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Law firms “could undermine positive impact” of SQE on diversity
The emphasis on increasing the range and choice of legal training in the Solicitors Qualifying Examination could help remove the blockage to social mobility in the profession.
Blog
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.
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.
