Latest news
Employment tribunals set for online justice pilot
The employment tribunals are set to host the pilot of an end-to-end online service through which cases would be run, the president of tribunals has revealed. Machine learning could also be introduced.
Quarter of conveyancers “not transparent” on fees
A quarter of consumers believe their lawyer was “not transparent” on conveyancing fees, new research has shown on the day new price and service transparency rules come into force.
Law Society’s £30m cut of practising fees faces scrutiny
The £30m that the Law Society levies on solicitors for its representative work is to be put under the microscope by the Legal Services Board next year.
Innovation in law – it takes “sweat, risk and stubbornness”
The founder of pioneering alternative business structure rradar has described innovation in the legal sector as “sweat, risk and stubbornness”. It is now lining up acquisitions to aid growth.
Manchester law firm bought by global multi-disciplinary network
Manchester law firm Glaisyers is set to become a multi-disciplinary practice for SME clients after being acquired by a consortium led by an international network of professional service firms.
Latest reorganisation seeks to build “Future Law Society”
The Law Society is undergoing its latest internal reorganisation, with the aim of creating “the Future Law Society” by 2022. It also wants solicitors to focus on work that cannot be automated.
Scandal of barrister who informed on clients to police
A criminal barrister has caused a scandal in Australia after it emerged that she was acting as a police informant about her gangland clients at the same as she was defending them.
Incoming Bar chair warns of “nightmare scenario” over regulation
The Bar could be “sleep walking into a nightmare scenario” where new rules mean it has no involvement with its regulator, the incoming chairman of the Bar Council has warned.
Another acquisition for Simpson Millar as growth strategy kicks in
Private equity-owned national firm Simpson Millar has increased its staff to over 500 and extended its reach in the North-West with the acquisition of a Lancaster-based general practice.
Lord Chief backs “smartphone justice” but not so keen on AI
There is no reason why litigants could not access the courts on their smartphones in future, the Lord Chief Justice said yesterday, but questioned the extent to which AI would handle judicial tasks.
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.
