Latest news
Law firm’s NDA under spotlight in tribunal case
A tribunal was entitled to allow a law firm facing a discrimination claim from a former solicitor to have its say on whether an ex-colleagues should be ordered to give evidence, having signed an NDA.
Crime agency adds online lawyer impersonation to hit list
The impersonation of lawyers to commit advance fee frauds has been added to the list of large-scale cyber-attacks from which the National Cyber Security Centre is trying to protect the public.
“Overworked” London solicitor fined for expenses claim errors
A London solicitor has been fined £2,500 for accidentally submitting duplicate receipts for taxis to his top-100 law firm, amounting to just £200. He blamed the errors on the long hours he was working.
Potential freelance solicitors told: Don’t resign just yet
There is a “huge amount of interest” among lawyers in becoming freelance solicitors under the new SRA rules, but they have been warned not to hand in their notice just yet.
Solicitor hit by legal aid cuts was “perfect target” for fraudsters
A sole practitioner described by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal as the “perfect target” for the promoters of dubious investment schemes has been struck off.
Gateley targets more non-legal services as turnover soars
Pioneering listed law firm Gateley is aiming to increase the non-legal services it offers substantially after recording record results, with revenues up 20% to £104m.
Consumer panel urges regulators to publish complaints data
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has criticised legal regulators’ continuing “resistance” to publishing complaints data about the lawyers they oversee.
Immigration regulator has “deep concerns” about SRA reforms
The immigration regulator has expressed its “deep concern” at the rules that will allow practising solicitors to operate from unregulated businesses.
Firm boss wrongly accused pregnant paralegal of benefit fraud
A pregnant paralegal wrongly accused of benefit fraud by a leading criminal law solicitor who sits on the Law Society council was the victim of pregnancy and maternity discrimination, a tribunal has ruled.
Struck-off solicitor made bankrupt by SRA agrees nine-year order
A struck-off solicitor made bankrupt by the Solicitors Regulation Authority because he owes it nearly £150,000 has agreed to a further nine years of bankruptcy restrictions.
Blog
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.
Linklaters’ chief growth officer takes the ‘blank sheet’ challenge
In the third and final part of this series, Lucy Murphy, chief growth officer at magic circle firm Linklaters, outlines her vision for the law firm of the future.
The ‘blank sheet’ challenge, part 2 – what would you do differently?
In the second part of this blog series, Shainul Kassam, managing director of small London firm Fortune Law, sets out how she would set up a law firm now.
