Latest news
SRA to review regime for checking solicitors’ competence
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to launch a review of its approach to solicitors’ continuing competence, amid calls for spot checks or accreditation schemes to reassure consumers.
Freshfields: Covid has “accelerated” innovation culture change
The demands of working under Covid-19 has led to an accelerated culture change at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, with lawyers much more willing to adopt tech solutions rapidly.
Legal assistant banned after lying about passing exams
A legal assistant who lied about passing his legal executive exams so that his law firm employer would reimburse the course fees has been banned from working in the solicitors’ profession.
Medium-sized law firms “the most innovative”
Medium-sized law firms are more innovative than other firms, and are becoming more specialised, with mergers and acqusitions set to accelerate that trend, a report has predicted.
Farewill raises £20m to fuel exponential growth
Online will-writer Farewill has raised £20m as it targets a major expansion in revenue, staff numbers and new services, including powers of attorney.
Appeal judges reject divorcee’s negligence claim
The Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling that a negligence claim brought by a woman against her law firm over its work on her divorce was out of time.
Inquiry was “right to refuse” participants choice of lawyer
The High Court has upheld a decision refusing two ‘core participants’ in the infected blood public inquiry the right to nominate their own solicitors.
Investors back lawyer-free online divorce service
An online service that helps divorcing couples draft their own documents and not use lawyers has received a new round of funding to increase the number of people it can help.
Criminals’ ‘go-to’ solicitor struck off while in jail
A solicitor who was the ‘go to’ lawyer for a gang of criminals because he would not ask too many questions about where their money came has been struck off while serving seven years in jail.
MP: Criminal lawyers need immediate help to survive
Shadow justice minister Karl Turner has called for an “immediate increase” in legal aid rates if criminal law firms are to survive, along with measures to save the Bar.
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.
