Practice Management
Law firm entitled to dismiss solicitor for not passing on complaints
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.
Criminal law firm keeps opening offices despite recruitment challenge
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 now using review websites…
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.
… As consumers say they value reviews when selecting lawyers
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.
ABS to keep staff “invested” through different kinds of shares
A new alternative business structure is to ensure staff are “personally invested” in the firm by offering them different kinds of shares.
Ex-partner fails in challenge to City firm’s accounts
A law firm was wrong to make provision in its statutory accounts for all of the money owed by a fixed-share partner, but not when it came to the partners’ accounts, the High Court has ruled.
Simpson Millar exits most of private client in profitability push
National firm Simpson Millar is to exit private client services except for personal injury and family law as part of a major restructure sparked in part by the introduction next year of fixed recoverable costs.
Large law firms “struggle to give their lawyers a voice”
The largest law firms in the UK and US “struggle to give their lawyers a voice” through thought leadership, new research has found, with smaller firms more effective.
Lawyers “will walk” if hybrid working demands not met
Lawyers working in large law firms are committed to working remotely from home post-pandemic, with almost half willing to walk away if told they have to attend the office full-time.
Law firms not responding quickly enough to new competitors
Traditional law firms are failing to adapt quickly enough to respond to new competitors, or to differentiate their services by offering alternative approaches, research for listed law firm DWF has found.
Blog
Accountability has to live within governance, not with one person
The assumption has long been that a COLP or COFA is personally exposed to the consequences of anti-money laundering breaches.
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
