Latest news
Tribunal allows paralegal’s discrimination claim against law firm to continue
A paralegal’s claim of disability discrimination after he was sacked by a law firm was wrongly struck out, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled. However, HHJ David Richardson said that Leicester firm Bond Adams had a strong case.
Exclusive: Horizontal integration in action as funeral director sets up ABS
A family-run firm of funeral directors with 36 branches has become the first of its kind to set up an alternative business structure. Lodge Brothers Legal Services, launched last week, offers fixed-fee services for clients wanting wills, probate and powers of attorney.
Former Solicitor-General among new ministers appointed to MoJ
The team under new Lord Chancellor Liz Truss at the Ministry of Justice took shape over the weekend with a clean slate of new ministers appointed. Sir Oliver Heald QC, who was Solicitor-General between 2012 and 2014, was named minister of state. He practised at the Bar for 20 years before being elected in 1992.
Public “more worried” about confidentiality breaches than solicitors
The public view information security failings at law firms more seriously than solicitors do, according to the “most surprising” outcome of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s Question of Trust exercise. A “significant” number of lawyers said a balance needed to be struck between client confidentiality and taking files out of the office to work on.
Law Society and CLC clash on switching regulators
The Law Society and Council for Licensed Conveyancers have clashed plans by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to make it easier for law firms to switch regulator. The society warned that clients could be left without proper cover.
Law Society to spend £61m on new IT systems
The Law Society’s ruling council yesterday agreed to spend £61m over four years on new IT systems for both its representative and regulatory arms – although it is forecasting that savings generated will bring the net cost down to £37m. There will be “robust governance processes” around the work.
Pioneering council ABSs join forces to create biggest local authority legal team
The first local authority alternative business structure to be given a licence by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has been taken over by the second. Lawyers at Buckinghamshire County Council have joined HB Public Law, making it the largest local authority legal team in the country.
All change at the Ministry of Justice under new PM
It is all change at the Ministry of Justice yesterday after accountant Liz Truss was named as the first woman Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, and it appeared that civil justice minister Lord Faulks was stepping down from his role.
SRA hits back over criticism of handbook rewrite
The chief executive and chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority have hit back over criticism of their plans for a comprehensive rewrite of the handbook. They said allowing solicitors to work outside authorised entities would contribute to improving access to legal services and enforcement of civil rights.
Solicitor’s wife who admitted misappropriating client funds set to escape tribunal
A sole practitioner’s wife, who worked at the firm as bookkeeper before being dismissed by her husband, is set to escape a hearing at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Blog
Mazur: a symptom not a cause?
If Mazur is a symptom, what does it mean for the underlying health of our civil justice system: the ‘finest legal system in the world’?
Cross-generation collaboration: the key to in-house legal tech adoption
In-house legal function leaders will increasingly have to evolve their thinking on how to manage multigenerational teams containing differing levels of technological expertise.
AI and law firm risk – the view of professional indemnity insurers
In considering law firm applications for cover, many insurers will expect to see evidence of how firms are adapting to AI and preparing for the future.
