Latest news
FCA will have power to cap personal injury CMCs’ fees
The Financial Conduct Authority will have the power to cap the fees of personal injury CMCs, although there is currently no need, says the Treasury.
Video hearings “will not supplant” face-to-face, says HMCTS
Video hearings will not supplant face-to-face hearings in the majority of cases before the courts, even after their use is expanded, the deputy director of HMCTS has predicted.
Client bid to stop £33,000 repayment to law firm fails
A client who received a mistaken payment of £177,000 from a law firm and only paid back £144,000 has failed to overturn a judgment in default.
Barrister fined for failing to follow instructions
An experienced criminal law barrister has been fined by a disciplinary tribunal for failing to apply for a forfeiture order on behalf of his client.
Solicitor falsely billed law firms to feed cocaine habit
A solicitor who was convicted of fraudulently submitting false invoices for police station work to fund his cocaine habit has been struck off.
NDA furore: Employment lawyers back more ethics training
Employment lawyers support targeted ethical training in the wake of the furore over NDAs, while the Bar Standards Board is to issue guidance on their use.
Law firms face £6m negligence claim from property investors
Two law firms have been facing multiple claims worth nearly £6m from disgruntled investors who lost money on hotels and student accommodation that were never built.
California considers leading way in US on non-lawyer owners
The State Bar of California has been urged to take the lead in the US in allowing non-lawyers to invest in and own law firms. It has agreed to set up a task force to investigate.
Suspension for solicitor convicted of ABH against ex-boyfriend
A family law solicitor convicted of actual bodily harm after she hit her former boyfriend in the face with a glass has been suspended from practice.
Appeal court rejects firm’s £4.5m claim over “missing referrals”
A personal injury law firm has lost its appeal against a High Court ruling that dismissed its £4.5m claim over referrals from an insurer that did not materialise.
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.
