Latest news
Jail for PI lawyer who lied in witness statements
A solicitor described by a High Court judge as a “thoroughly dishonest man” has been jailed and a medical expert who produced 32 reports a day handed a suspended sentence.
Survey: Home-buyers “in the dark” over referral fees
Most home-buyers do not know if their conveyancer paid a fee for a recommendation from their estate agent, according to new research from the CLC.
Platform brings AI to pricing legal work
A legal costs and pricing specialist has designed artificial intelligence-powered software that it says will help law firms price work faster and more accurately.
Solicitor faked documents and signatures “to cover up mistakes”
An experienced solicitor who faked documents, including a grant of probate, and forged signatures on conveyancing forms has been struck off by the SDT.
Listed law firm leads October merger rush
The 1 October indemnity insurance renewal date still used by most law firms was marked by the usual rush of mergers and acquisitions, with listed law firm Knights leading the way.
Standard of proof: SRA “already most successful prosecutor”
The SRA enjoys the “highest prosecution success rate of any regulator we have found”, making it unnecessary to lower the standard of proof, the Law Society has said.
Proptech newcomer wins funding for conveyancing service
A proptech pioneer aiming to create a data-driven escrow service for conveyancers is exploring the use of blockchain security and is considering white-labelling its product.
Bar Council targets chambers’ “ineffective” harassment policies
The Bar Council is to publish new guidance for barristers and chambers on dealing with sexual harassment, amid claims that many chambers’ existing policies are “wholly ineffective”.
Law firm owned by 18 partners’ companies among new waivers
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued 23 waivers from its rules under a new policy – 18 of which have gone to sole practitioner law firms which together make up another firm’s partnership.
Solicitors’ firms starting to switch regulator
Solicitors’ firms are moving their whole practices or conveyancing departments to the oversight of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, it has emerged.
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.
