Latest news
Partners asked clients to “absolve” them of any liability
Two partners who asked clients to sign a declaration in their retainer letters stating that they absolved their law firm “from any liability whatsoever” – including professional negligence – have been fined.
Survey: Law firms benefit from efforts to help disabled
Solicitors’ firms that adjust the way they present information to disabled people – and make explicit how they can accommodate their needs – will see the business benefits, a major study has found.
Solicitor struck off for property sting on client
A sole practitioner has been struck off for a sting in which a client’s money was used by the solicitor’s business partner to buy a property for a much lower price which was then sold to the client at a profit.
HMCTS under fire for “carry on regardless” approach to reforms
HM Courts & Tribunals Service has come under fire by lawyers giving evidence to MPs for failing to assess the impact of its court reforms and adopting a “carry on regardless” approach.
SRA on hunt for ‘strategy and innovation’ director
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is set to appoint a new executive director for strategy and innovation, filling a hole for a policy specialist in the regulator’s senior management team.
Report highlights local benefits of ‘nearshoring’
Large City and international firms outsourcing legal and non-legal functions to lower-cost centres elsewhere in the UK produces significant benefits for those areas, a report has found.
Solicitor cleared of trying to mislead Ofsted and tribunal
A solicitor accused of sending a witness statement that was likely to mislead Ofsted and the First-tier Tribunal has been cleared of any wrongdoing. He was found to have acted in good faith.
Partner died in wake of misconduct allegations
A partner at Eversheds Sutherland was found dead hours after being suspended from work for alleged sexual behaviour towards women colleagues at a Christmas party, an inquest heard last week.
Chambers teams up with law school for advocacy module
Barristers from Exchange Chambers have teamed up with Lancaster University Law School to develop and deliver an undergraduate advocacy module for students.
Global investment in legal tech to hit £1bn this year
Global investments in legal technology companies are nearing a record £1bn this year, with the £44m raised by London-based ContractPodAI the largest in the UK, a new analysis has revealed.
Blog
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.
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
