Latest news
Warning over Civil Liability Bill litigation risk
The government will need to fill in the detail of the Civil Liability Bill carefully to avoid a new outbreak of litigation because of claimants trying to “game the system”.
Civil Liability Bill clears Commons with no exemption for children
The Civil Liability Bill completed its passage through the House of Commons yesterday, with MPs voting by 294 to 238 to approve its third reading amid “enormous respect” for PI lawyers.
Solicitor who defrauded clients of £144,000 is struck off
A solicitor jailed for five years for defrauding clients of over £144,000 has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. He is appealing against his conviction.
Brexit will not help law firms trying to expand abroad, MPs told
Brexit will not create opportunities for law firms to expand into new markets abroad and instead could make it harder, MPs on the justice select committee have been warned.
Review urges single regulator for all Scottish lawyers
There should be a single regulator for all lawyers in Scotland, a major review commissioned by the Scottish government has concluded. It all called for the title ‘lawyer’ to be protected.
Civil Liability Bill “undermines Lord Chancellor’s oath of office”
The Civil Liability Bill seriously undermines the oath sworn by Lord Chancellor David Gauke to defend the independence of the judiciary, claimant lawyers have argued.
SDT fines motoring lawyer twice convicted of drink driving
A solicitor specialising in motoring offences, banned from driving for three years after a second conviction for drink-driving, has been fined £15,000 by a disciplinary tribunal.
High Court upholds suspension of barrister who stole purse
The High Court has upheld the year-long suspension of a barrister who was captured on CCTV stealing a purse in a Cardiff night club after the BSB admitted to a procedural error.
MPs warn of “devastating impact” on law firms of no-deal Brexit
A ‘no deal’ Brexit would be “devastating” to the legal services sector, “and should be avoided at all costs”, MPs have told the government, saying UK lawyers need to practise easily across the EU.
Legal Ombudsman set finally to clear complaints backlog
The Legal Ombudsman will finally be able to look the profession in the eye again next year when it clears the backlog of complaints, its chair has said.
Blog
The SRA’s strict liability gamble has failed. Good
The Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in Dentons v SRA on 27 April, and the profession is right to welcome it. It is the second time in short succession that the court has corrected the SRA.
How AI presents real opportunities for barristers
AI presents real opportunities to improve access to justice and to support barristers in day-to-day legal practice. But we all need to understand and mitigate the risks.
Not everything can be a competition issue – a new dawn for consumer redress
Last month, the Law Commission launched a new project to “consider the potential introduction of a consumer class actions regime” in England and Wales.
