Latest news
Ex-civil servant takes on SRA strategy and innovation role
A former civil servant who also held a senior role at the Co-operative Group has been appointed to the new role at the Solicitors Regulation Authority of executive director for strategy and innovation.
Lawyers could be forced to sign up to comparison websites
Law firms, chambers and other legal services providers could be forced to sign up to comparison websites so that clients can let others know about the quality of service they received.
NAHL shares crash amid personal injury market uncertainty
Shares in NAHL plc – owner of National Accident Helpline – crashed today after it said uncertainty in the personal injury market would significantly affect its performance in 2020.
Major fire hits Law Society’s historic headquarters
Twenty five fire engines and around 150 firefighters were called to deal with a fire at the Law Society’s headquarters on Chancery Lane on Saturday evening. Nobody was injured.
Three deals in three months – Knights strikes again
Knights has unveiled its second acquisition this year – and seventh in little over 18 months as a listed company – with a £2.8m deal to buy a housing industry law firm in Manchester.
HMCTS told to fund lay advocates to lift solicitors’ burden
A High Court family judge has ordered that public funds be made available to pay for lay advocates to support intellectually impaired parents so as to lift the load from their solicitors.
Obscene tweets barrister “could have reached the top”
A barrister suspended for sending obscene and offensive tweets “might well have scaled the heights of the profession” had it not been for her actions outside of her practice, a tribunal has said.
“Surprisingly incompetent” solicitor fined over instructions failure
An experienced solicitor who acted in a “surprisingly incompetent manner” has been heavily fined for failing to clarify whether instructions from a client living in Pakistan were genuine.
Four legal tech companies chosen for accelerator
Four legal businesses are among 30 chosen to join a flagship programme for mid-stage, fast-growing tech companies, with organisers saying it shows how the legal market is ripe for disruption.
Ministers “discussing” viability of April whiplash reform launch
Ministers remain committed to whiplash reform but are considering whether the new portal can actually go live on 6 April, a senior Ministry of Justice official admitted yesterday.
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.
