Latest news
Government “cherrypicking misleading figures” to push PI reforms
Department for Transport statistics show that the government is using “misleading” figures on the number of injuries caused road traffic accidents to push forward its persona injury reforms, undermining one of the key arguments for them, the Motor Accident Solicitors Society has claimed.
City firm launches lawtech start-up incubator
Leading London law firm and alternative business structure Mishcon de Reya yesterday announced the creation of an incubator for lawtech start-ups, with the founder saying it was less about investment than helping to change the firm’s culture to embrace technology.
Compensation scheme counts cost of indemnity insurance failures – but predicts no new ones this year
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has had to increase its provision for general insurance claims by around £45m for the next financial year, because of the failures of Enterprise Insurance and Gable Insurance AG, it has emerged, while it is still paying out for other insurers that used to back solicitors.
Senior judge launches extraordinary attack over “blackmail” by solicitors and tells barristers to stop defending them
A senior judge has accused solicitors of “blackmailing” the immigration tribunal in an extraordinary attack that also branded their conduct as “disgraceful” and “shameful” in not pursuing the appeals they had lodged.He also warned that some barristers had wrongly seen their role as protecting their instructing solicitors.
Law Society warns solicitors may be damaged by Brexit
US law firms will have less incentive to employ UK-qualified lawyers as a way to access European market and the UK solicitor title will become less desirable after a hard Brexit, the Law Society has warned. In any event, transitional arrangements to ensure continuity if negotiations are not concluded with two years after article 50 is triggered are essential,
Susskind: Parliament should adopt advanced IT for lawmaking
Parliament could harness the power of technology to provide a system to lawmakers that gives them the ability to test speculatively the knock-on effects of legislative changes while they are considering bills, according to IT guru Professor Richard Susskind.
ABS owned by global insurer launches online SME subscription service
A DIY online information service run by the law firm owned by global insurance giant Markel has been opened up to individual SME subscribers. LHS Solicitors charges £45 a year for full access to a ‘digital hub’ which has templates, factsheets, guides, and legal documents, aimed at businesses.
Disciplinary round-up: fine for firm which failed to make client’s visa application and then lost his passport
A north London law firm has been rebuked for misleading its client into thinking that it had made a visa application on his behalf. It is one of a series of recent disciplinary cases, including the bankrupt insolvency barrister fined for not paying over fees to his trustee in bankruptcy.
QC body to probe why more women are not applying
The body that appoints QCs has commissioned research to uncover barriers which deter women from applying, after they made up 27.6% of the latest batch of silks – but this was the highest proportion ever. In all, 113 of the 254 advocates who applied were successful, a success rate of 44.5%. They included six of 13 solicitor applicants.
Exclusive: Accountants abandon bid to train up their own litigators and advocates – for now
Accountants who want to offer tax litigation and advocacy services under an expanded regulatory regime will have to employ a lawyer after the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) abandoned its attempt to train up its own members.











