Practice Management
Coca-Cola to penalise outside firms for insufficiently diverse teams
Drinks giant Coca-Cola is to start penalising its panel law firms with reduced fees if they fail to deliver on diversity commitments, in a shift starting in the US and then expanding globally.
Calls to LawCare about anxiety more than double
Calls from legal professionals about anxiety more than doubled in 2020, the chief executive of welfare charity LawCare has said – a third of all contacts related to Covid.
Lack of data leaves courts “flying blind” on impact of Covid, MPs told
The courts system is failing to collect vital information about the performance of judges and trials during the Covid-19 pandemic, an expert has told Parliament, leaving observers “flying blind”.
Competition hots up to become standard software for in-house teams
A software platform aimed at bringing together the various apps used by corporate legal teams is launched today, while another product aimed at the same market has raised $14m.
GCs at private equity firms “lack control of legal spending”
Senior in-house lawyers at large private equity firms are responsible for the cost of instructing law firms but lack the power to control it, a study has found.
Law firm awarded £25k damages for defamatory Trustpilot review
The High Court has awarded a law firm damages of £25,000 for a defamatory review on Trustpilot posted by a disgruntled former client who paid £200 for advice.
Veteran solicitor practised without insurance
A sole practitioner in his 70s has been struck off after practising for over six months without professional indemnity insurance, despite telling others he had cover.
Trainee specialist launches scholarships for Black graduates
Trainee specialist Accutrainee has launched a scholarship programme for Black law graduates to help provide the work experience they need to become solicitors and pay for the SQE.
National Audit Office challenges basis of court reforms
A top National Audit Office official has asked fundamental questions of the government’s court reform programme, even as the head of the courts service extolled its performance during the pandemic.
High Court rejects “unmeritorious claim” against barrister
The High Court has rejected an “unmeritorious” negligence claim against a barrister brought by a former law lecturer acting as a litigant in person.
Blog
AI and client confidentiality: the next regulatory faultline
The area most likely to expose firms to regulatory jeopardy in 2026 needs far more guidance: client confidentiality in the age of commercial AI systems.
The UK’s global leadership in lawtech is at risk if women are left behind
Tech has the equivalent of an old boy’s network. That makes it harder for women to break in. It also makes it harder when it comes to networking, finding backers and ultimately clients.
How legal judgement is shifting in in-house practice
Across UK organisations, legal teams are now involved earlier in decision-making, often before proposals have taken a settled shape.
