Legal Services Act
Ex-Linklaters partner urges big firms not to furlough staff
A former Linklaters partner now researching ethics at big law firms has urged them not to furlough or make staff redundant if the goal is to maintain partner profitability levels.
Fee-earners “generate little profit” for SME law firms
Just under 90% of fees generated by fee-earners at small and medium-sized law firms last year were used to cover their costs, Law Society research has found.
Lockdown update: Video signings, emergency appeal and more
A group that contains both a regulated and unregulated law firm has launched what it says is the first video-signing service for statutory documents, as we round up the latest coronavirus news.
Week two of lockdown: Pride as work continues for many
Clients did not disappear and matters did not ground to a halt in many practice areas during the second week of the coronavirus lockdown, research has found.
MoJ eyes further support for legal aid firms and junior Bar
The Ministry of Justice is considering the idea of continuing to pay legal aid firms the average amount they claim each month to help them survive the coronavirus crisis.
New ABS targets ‘David and Goliath’ insurance disputes
A start-up alternative business structure has been launched to bring City solicitor expertise to bear to help consumers and SMEs win disputes when insurers fail to honour their policies.
Rosenblatt: Trading unaffected by coronavirus to date
Listed law firm Rosenblatt has not yet experienced any impact on its trading since the start of the coronavirus crisis, but is to delay paying out dividends to investors.
Bar Council calls on LSB not to recruit staff during crisis
The Bar Council has called on the Legal Services Board not to recruit more staff during the coronavirus crisis for the task of overseeing legal bodies’ internal governance.
Huge growth at PI ABS but Leeds office put on ice
Staff numbers at personal injury law firm Bond Turner grew by 65% last year but the listed company that owns it has put the firm’s expansion to Leeds on hold during the coronavirus crisis.
MoJ offers some financial support for legal aid firms
The Ministry of Justice has introduced economic help for legal aid firms, making hardship payments easier to access and pausing debt repayments to the Legal Aid Agency.
Blog
On good authority? GenAI and the reputational risks to law firms
As GenAI’s influence grows, so do the risks which are already playing out in courtrooms across England and Wales, where some early adopters are setting precedents they would rather not.
Why this is the year for law firms to embrace generative AI
After more than a year of pilots, proofs of value and early experimentation, firms are increasingly embedding AI into day-to-day workflows.
Client account interest is not spare change
The proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts scheme is being framed as a sensible, international, “tried and tested” way for the profession to help fund a justice system under strain.
