Competence
Supreme Court overturns law firm negligence decision
The Supreme Court has overturned a Court of Appeal ruling that a negligent law firm should have to compensate its former client for failing to make a claim.
Clients’ focus on price is compromising us, say solicitors
Solicitors at smaller firms believe that clients’ focus on price is compromising their work and even their ability to uphold the law, a survey has suggested.
Judge criticises top firm for exacerbating divorce conflict
A top family law firm has been criticised by a High Court judge for exacerbating the conflict in a high-value divorce by issuing a Form A during a period when it had been agreed not to.
Law Society to start onsite visits to check firms’ CQS compliance
The Law Society is dramatically beefing up oversight of its Conveyancing Quality Scheme by introducing onsite compliance checks and many more desk-based assessments.
No point in conveyancers trying to “export” Dreamvar fraud risk
Conveyancers acting for buyers should “think” rather than “automatically try to export the risk of identity fraud onto the seller’s conveyancer”, a specialist barrister has warned.
CA refuses to widen solicitor’s retainer for negligence claim
Solicitors do not have to carry out investigative tasks in areas they have not been asked to deal with, however beneficial to the client it might have turned out to be.
Inquest negligence claim against Leigh Day thrown out
A claim that Leigh Day was negligent in its representation of the family of the deceased at an inquest has been dismissed by the High Court.
Law firm was instructed “when clients agreed to visit its offices”
People buying holiday home became clients of a law firm after agreeing to visit its offices to complete their purchases, making it liable for negligence, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Dreamvar reaction: Conveyancers face insurance premium hikes
Conveyancers are facing higher professional indemnity insurance costs – and their clients higher fees as a result – due to yesterday’s Court of Appeal ruling in Dreamvar, experts have predicted. One said the judgment “will provide greater protection to buyers, but will shake up the conveyancing industry with much greater risk of liability”.
High Court refuses to strike out £1.2m family law negligence claim
“Very real obstacles” faced by a family law client in bringing a negligence action against a Cheshire law firm did not mean that the claim should be struck out in its entirety, the High Court has ruled. The claimant argued that, but for the firm’s negligence, he would have had to pay a third of the lump sum ordered by a district judge on his divorce.
Blog
The power of participation for trainees and apprentices
It’s important as a trainee or an apprentice to get involved in the life of your firm – even under the pressure of discovering how to navigate professional life and now the demands of the SQE.
Is it time to change how law firms view compliance?
Although COFAs often hold senior positions and play an essential role in a firm’s financial and regulatory integrity, the perception of the compliance function itself is still evolving.
From templates to culture change: Lessons from the SRA on source of funds
The SRA’s new thematic review into source of funds and wealth reveals both progress and persistent blind spots, with source-of-funds checks too often thought of as a procedural hurdle.
