Latest news
SDT to move to civil standard of proof
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal is to move from the criminal to the civil standard of proof and rejected suggestions that this will result in “easier prosecutions”.
Carbon opens door for retiring partners to sell client portfolios
New-breed firm Carbon Law Partners has introduced a structure to help senior lawyers realise the economic value of their client base so they can retire, in a way that is not possible in traditional firms.
Conveyancers “underquoting to win business”, SRA suggests
Some conveyancing law firms are providing unrealistic initial quotes in order to win business and most cause unnecessary enquiries from the Land Registry, SRA research has suggested.
Divorce to be wholly online “within months”
Every family law practitioner will have felt the effects of court modernisation in their daily practice within a year, with the remaining parts of the divorce process moving online within months.
Victim of senior partner’s f-word tirades awarded £47,000
A paralegal subjected to f-word tirades by the boss of a London law firm has been awarded £47,000 by an employment tribunal. But it said proven acts of harassment did not cause her mental breakdown.
Negligence claim over football club chairman’s divorce to proceed
A judge was wrong to stop a case against a law firm that had incorporated since potentially negligent advice was given when the wrong entity was named in the claim, the High Court has ruled.
Gordon Dadds share price rallies after international network deal
Gordon Dadds saw its share price rebound for its lowest ever point after announcing an agreement to work with five of the law firms that used to be part of the Ince & Co international network.
Blockchain trial “has potential to transform property market”
The use of blockchain software in the end-to-end conveyancing process came a step closer when a worldwide trial involving leading law firms and banks cut transactions from months to weeks.
New video hearings pilot will test “more robust software”
Video hearings are set to be piloted for a second time in the tax tribunal, this time using “robust” technology after criticisms of its reliability last year, the Senior President of Tribunals has revealed.
Instances of judges bullying female barristers exaggerated, says LCJ
The problem of male judges bullying female barristers in court has been exaggerated, the Lord Chief Justice suggested yesterday. But Lord Burnett said he was concerned about reports of sexism at the criminal Bar.
Blog
Why is Andrew Malkinson still paying for a crime he didn’t commit?
Like many in my profession and beyond, I have been moved by the case of Andrew Malkinson, the man who spent 17 years in prison for an awful crime he did not commit.
What is tech bloat and why is it a problem for law firms?
Too many law firms are adopting shiny new tech without first retiring their legacy systems, causing duplication and unnecessary costs.
The civil courts and the digital divide
Despite the government’s decision to increase Ministry of Justice funding, its budget for 2025-26 is still 14% lower in real terms than in 2007-08.
