Latest news
‘Panicked’ assistant solicitor fabricated counsel’s advice and expert reports
An assistant solicitor has admitted to having “fabricated” advice from counsel, two expert reports and a series of letters on a medical negligence case because she felt “completely panicked and couldn’t see a way out”. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found that she “had not been thinking rationally at the time”.
Firm of “external in-house counsel” joins regulated community as ABS
A boutique firm of external in-house counsel has launched an alternative business structure in order to expand and strengthen its non-lawyer management. London-headquartered Cleveland & Co received its ABS licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, effective from 1 August.
Car crash not to blame for lack of training contract, judge tells litigant-in-person
A judge has told a litigant-in-person that a road traffic accident she was involved in was not to blame for her failure to secure a training contract. Judge Walden-Smith said the “sad fact” was that many “competent individuals” failed to obtain a contract.
Appeal judges limit professional privilege where lives are at risk
Legal professional privilege can be qualified in the “rare circumstances” where it is necessary to impose a requirement that other people are present at discussions between lawyers and clients, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Exclusive: Minster Law signs national advocacy deal with Clerksroom and Parklane Plowden
Personal injury specialist Minster Law has signed an exclusive two-year contract with national chambers Clerksroom and Parklane Plowden, to provide barristers for its fast and multi-track cases. Stephen Ward, chief executive of Clerksroom, said he hoped similar contracts would follow.
Former City “rising star” given suspended sentence by SDT after drink-driving conviction
A former partner at a top City law firm with a history of drink-driving has been given a suspended sentence by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), following a conviction for drink-driving with his five-year-old son in the car.
GT Law “strongly denies any wrongdoing” over Sonae litigation
GT Law, one of the two firms referred to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) by Mr Justice Jay over the Sonae litigation, has said that it “strongly denies any wrongdoing”. The SRA is considering “appropriate action”.
Solicitor ducks regulatory burden by becoming McKenzie Friend
A solicitor who has become a professional McKenzie Friend after 20 years in practice has hit out at the burden imposed on high street practitioners, which he said cost him almost £2m and pushed him into personal bankruptcy.
Serious Fraud Office launches criminal investigation into Quindell
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has announced this afternoon that its director has opened a criminal investigation into “business and accounting practices” at troubled Quindell plc. The Financial Reporting Council has launched its own investigation.
Legal research pioneers to bring “artificially intelligent attorney” to UK
Law firms in England and Wales are in the sights of the creators of the legal research programme powered by IBM’s Watson artificial intelligence computer system, which claims to be able to answer legal queries posed in natural language.
Blog
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.
Automation in personal injury claims: The evolving legal risks
As automation tools become more sophisticated, they are increasingly used for more complex tasks, such as interpreting evidence and informing case strategy, particular in the PI sector.
