Latest news
CA upholds role of privilege in company investigations
The Court of Appeal has overturned a ruling seen as driving a coach and horses through the protection provided to corporate clients by legal professional privilege.
Gauke to exempt vulnerable road users from whiplash reforms
Vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, will be completely exempt from the government’s whiplash reforms, the Lord Chancellor announced yesterday.
Knowledge platform aims to foster barrister entrepreneurs
The owner of the Bar Directory’s new online home has said his ultimate goal is to create a platform where individual barristers could earn subscription income through self-publishing.
SRA warns on fraudster infiltrators as small firms lose £7m
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned law firms to be on the alert for fraudster infiltrators after incidents at two small practices led to potential losses of over £7m.
Consumer panel will tell government “uncomfortable truths” over legal aid
The Legal Services Consumer Panel is ready to tell the government some “uncomfortable truths” about legal aid, its new chair has said. Legal aid was a “priority” for her tenure.
Swiss firm seeks Brexit benefits with ABS launch
A Swiss law firm that specialises in arbitration work has received an alternative business structure licence to open up in London.
Shadow justice secretary hits out at Civil Liability Bill
The shadow justice secretary has ripped into the Civil Liability Bill, saying Labour will vote against it as it stands. He said the government had to remove the “barriers to justice”.
New SFO chief turns to lawyers for help tackling crime
The new director of the Serious Fraud Office is to call on the legal sector’s “expertise” to help in the fight against crime. She also talked about plans to use machine learning and AI.
Exclusive: “Competition in law is fierce but not working for consumers”
The fact that there is a lot of competition in the legal market does not mean it is working well for consumers, the chair of the Legal Services Consumers Panel has said.
Survey: Public happy to settle PI claims online without lawyers
The public would feel comfortable with using an online portal that resulted in a “straightforward settlement” of a personal injury claim without the need for lawyers.
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.
