Practice Management

There has been a sudden spike in the number of law firms of all sizes reporting to the Solicitors Regulation Authority that they are facing financial problems, it has emerged.

Unbundling has the potential to increase access to justice and help firms attract new clients, but awareness among lawyers and consumers is low, research by the SRA has found.

National law firm TLT has become one of the few law firms to commit to achieving validated net zero targets by 2040, as verified by the Science Based Targets initiative.

A fifth of female solicitors were promoted into a new role by their law firms during or after maternity leave, but a similar proportion “felt unwelcome” on their return, a major study has found.

A consultant-led international law firm, based in the City, has become the first to join the Institute for Collaborative Working, saying clients were looking for law firms to be business partners.

A law firm does not have to pay outstanding salary owed to a solicitor it fired for gross misconduct discovered after he resigned, an employment tribunal has ruled.

A rapidly expanding criminal law firm has opened its 23rd office but its managing partner says the “lack of individuals to hire” is its biggest – and worsening – challenge.

Almost half of law firms are now using review websites but there remains strong opposition to price comparison for legal services, a Solicitors Regulation Authority survey has found.

Consumers see online review websites as a helpful tool to find a lawyer, with those needing family law advice particularly likely to shop around, according to Solicitors Regulation Authority research.

A new alternative business structure is to ensure staff are “personally invested” in the firm by offering them different kinds of shares.