Latest news

The time for just talking about new ways of doing things in the law is over as clients “turn their backs on the pricing and delivery models that law firms have traditionally sold them”, a leading banker has warned. He said a “palpable shift” in thinking and serious investment in new technologies and delivery methods were now strategic priorities.

After a busy week of news, we round up some stories we haven’t had room for so far, including the Law Society seeking to intervene in the Dreamvar case, BPP Law School launching a legal innovation and design course, QualitySolicitors fighting off a complaint about its advertising, and much more besides.

An alternative business structure launched at the end of last year to invest in profitable “local hero” law firms, has already taken over one practice this year and is on the verge of taking a share in another. London-based Echelon Law offers back-office support and has a particular focus on firms of one to three partners.

A solicitor who “completely failed to recognise the significance of being a partner” in a law firm and the responsibility that involved has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. It said the Compensation Fund had received claims of £1.8m against his firm and “paid out in excess of £1.2m”.

A solicitor, paralegal, GP and claims management company owner are all set to face committal proceedings for contempt of court shortly over an alleged fraudulent personal injury claim. The High Court this week approved further grounds for the committal, taking the total to 40.

Partners in a former Stratford-upon-Avon law firm have been fined by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal after the finance co-ordinator in the accounts department took nearly £1.7m from client account. He eventually confessed in a resignation letter that said he had “gone above and beyond the remit of my role” by using client money to keep the firm going.

A north-west law firm has been rebuked after paying more than £200,000 to an unauthorised claims management company for personal injury referrals. The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been dogged by questions over the effectiveness of its response to the ban on PI referral fees since it became law in 2013.

An increase in the number of callers to mental health charity LawCare is a sign of “greater awareness”, its chief executive has said. Workplace stress was cited as the main reason for contacting to LawCare by 27% of callers, followed by depression (17%), disciplinary concerns (8%) and anxiety (7%).

A Nigerian-born former administrative assistant at leading national firm Shoosmiths has been awarded damages for harassment after another member of staff standing by her desk said that “struggling immigrants should go back to their country”. But her other claims of discrimination and victimisation were rejected.

A sole practitioner who admitted dishonesty misappropriating £100,000 of client money could end up costing the compensation fund over £600,000, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has said. Her motive was funding her business, and she tried to conceal what she was doing by false accounting.