Legal Services Act
MoJ on whiplash portal: “We must not rush it”
The Ministry of Justice official heading whiplash reform programme has maintained that April 2020 remains the goal, but said minister Lord Keen wants “to get this right and not rush it”.
Rosenblatt outstrips listed peers on revenue per fee-earner
City firm Rosenblatt has the highest revenue per fee-earner of any of the listed law firms, it told investors yesterday. The analysis came as the firm unveiled strong results for the first half of 2019.
Land Registry fails to hit target for reducing lawyers’ errors
HM Land Registry has not met its target to reduce the number of requests for information that it has to send to law firms that have submitted incomplete or inaccurate information.
Two-thirds of divorce clients pay fixed fees
Almost two-thirds of divorce and separation clients now pay fixed fees, but less than half of them end up paying the price quoted at the start, a report has found.
Keystone share dip shows market contagion risk
Investors have still to understand the legal market fully, according to the chief executive of listed law firm Keystone, which suffered market contagion last month because of problems at a litigation funder.
Labour pledges £74m for lawyers, law centres and legal aid
The Labour Party has pledged to spend £74m to provide free legal training for 200 community lawyers, establish more law centres, and reverse all the cuts to legal aid-funded Early Legal Help.
Lower-cost legal departments spend more on alternative providers
Lower-cost in-house legal departments spend three times more on alternative legal services providers and twice as much on training, research has found.
Defendant solicitors worry about PI reforms delay
A leading insurance law firm has outlined worries that the Civil Liability Act reforms will not be implemented in April 2020 as currently planned.
ABS Carbon opens platform to own-brand start-ups
A virtual firm alternative business structure aimed at top-end solicitors approaching retirement is white labelling entities to groups of lawyers or overseas practices looking to start up under their own brand.
Third “and probably last” ABS joint venture for NAHL
NAHL plc – the company that owns National Accident Helpline – has unveiled its third, and probably last, joint venture alternative business structure as it prepares for next year’s personal injury reforms.
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.
