Latest news
Small is beautiful, say solicitors who downsized from big firms
Small law firms are appealing places to work for solicitors from larger practices, but growth and credibility are among the concerns, according to a survey.
Tribunal rejects paralegal’s disability discrimination claim
An employment tribunal has comprehensively rejected a disability discrimination claim brought by a paralegal who worked for well-known personal injury firm Ralli.
SRA: ‘Independent solicitors’ could come together in chambers
The new breed of freelance solicitor – or what will officially be called an ‘independent solicitor’ – could join forces with others in a chambers-style arrangement, the SRA has suggested.
Solicitor “tried to settle debts with promissory notes”
A solicitor who took the “extraordinary approach” of trying to settle his debts of over £115,000 with promissory notes has been struck off. He also used client monies to pay office expenditure.
Lawtech enables firms to sell “invisible” legal services
A key aspect of tech is its potential to help lawyers sell to consumers as part of a multi-disciplinary package that includes unrelated services, where the ‘legal’ part is invisible to the purchaser.
Law Society records £11.5m deficit in latest accounts
The Law Society recorded a deficit of £11.5m on a budget of £116m in the last financial year, compared to a surplus of £6.7m in the previous 12 months, its annual report has revealed.
Traditional law firms must adapt or die, tech GCs warn
Traditional commercial law firms are “on their death bed” and must change their business models to survive, the general counsel of three leading tech companies have warned.
White students still way out ahead in race for pupillages
White students are significantly more likely to obtain pupillage than those from BAME backgrounds, with the gap widest among those who have not achieved the highest results, new figures have shown.
Government ensures paper-based access to online courts
The Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill had its first reading in the House of Commons yesterday after the government added further protection for those unable or unwilling to use online processes.
“Under pressure” lawyer misled court after amending attendance note
A defendant personal injury lawyer who inaccurately recorded a telephone conversation with the other side in an attendance note – which led to the court being misled – has been fined.
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.
