Practice Management
Parliamentarians hear call for quotas to boost profession’s diversity
There is a “lead ceiling” hampering the advancement of ethnic minority lawyers to the senior ranks of the profession and quotas are needed to bring about change, parliamentarians have been told.
“Ignorance” the main barrier to law firm EOTs, says newest adopter
The managing director of the latest law firm to become an employee ownership trust has said the biggest barrier is the “ignorance” of solicitors.
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.
Blog
Containing the spread of unapproved AI
Nearly 60% of fee-earners admit to using unapproved tools (like free versions of ChatGPT). Yet 68% of firm leaders are confident there is zero risk of unapproved AI being used for client work.
When AI adoption goes wrong, costs add up fast
City AM recently reported that London is fighting to claim the title of ‘global capital of legal AI’. However, it’s crucial we remember that adoption alone does not create value.
Gen Z lawyers vs identity, sacrifice and success
This conversation began with my training principal, who admitted something many senior lawyers quietly feel: “I struggle to understand what motivates Gen Z lawyers.”
