Latest news
Solicitor fined over actions when receiving legacies from clients
An experienced solicitor has been fined £7,500 over misconduct in relation to clients who left him gifts in their wills, including a house that later sold for £478,000.
Supreme Court rejects appeal over law firm negligence claim
The Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal against a ruling that blocked a negligence action against London law firm Forsters.
BSB urged to take over ‘fit and proper person’ tests from inns
The Bar Standards Board has been urged to take control from the Inns of Court of deciding whether someone is ‘fit and proper’ to be called to the Bar.
Exclusive: Top chambers eyes up PI small claims service
One of the country’s leading personal injury sets is planning to offer litigants in person a new way to obtain legal advice once the government increases the small claims limit.
Keystone delivers results to match soaring share price
Listed firm Keystone Law has unveiled strong interim results, with revenues up 30% and profits 35% to back up a share price that has more than doubled in less than a year.
Disciplined solicitor blames failings on legal aid cuts
A criminal sole practitioner has been fined for offences which he blamed on having dispensed with his accounts manager after the firm suffered from legal aid cuts.
High Court finds oral agreement to pay solicitor’s fees
The High Court has found there was an oral agreement between a solicitor and the son-in-law of a client that the latter would cover his fees, which in the end totalled £330,000.
Online wills business “expanding despite higher fee”
A business selling online wills has reported rapid growth, such that it has employed a solicitor to head its team of will checkers, and it has also secured the backing of the Daily Mail’s owner.
Heat rising over SRA plan for solicitors in unregulated firms
The Legal Services Board has received unprecedented lobbying against the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s plans to allow solicitors to practise from unregulated businesses.
Leading firm ordered to hand over part of client file to HMRC
National law firm DAC Beachcroft has had mixed success in fighting off a bid by HM Revenue & Customs to access a conveyancing file involving offshore clients.
Blog
Why housing disrepair claims against councils have leapt by nearly 400%
Housing disrepair claims against councils have surged dramatically in recent years, with some areas reporting increases approaching a staggering 400%.
Client accounts: Opportunity, obligation and the risks in between
The profitability gap between well-run firms and the rest is not primarily a function of size, location or practice area – it is a function of financial management.
Motor finance – the FCA is more worried about banks than consumers
The Financial Conduct Authority’s motor finance redress scheme announced last week amounts to one of the largest ever consumer failures by the regulator.
