Practice Management
Signs of recovery as conveyancing firm sets up academy and Law Society predicts strong growth
Yorkshire’s largest conveyancing firm has set up a £150,000 training academy after its workload trebled in the past two years. It comes as the Law Society has predicted increased turnover growth in the legal sector this year and next, in part because of the recovering property market.
Web forum drives QS firm’s consumer credit growth
The LegalBeagles web forum, set up by a Brighton litigation executive, is providing the town’s oldest law firm with a stream of consumer credit work and what is understood be the first bank charges court victory since 2007.
Compensation fund faces £2.5m bill for uninsured law firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority expects its compensation fund to have to pay out up to £2.5m in the next practising year to cover the cost of negligence claims against uninsured law firms, it has emerged.
Hub.Legal aims to lead way in support for small firms
The solicitor in charge of a network of 136 West Midlands firms has said it aims to lead the way in support for small law firms, while remaining outside any national group. Hub.Legal is operated by FBC Manby Bowdler, formerly a hub in Pannone’s Connect2Law network.
LSB praised for scuppering indemnity cover cut
The Legal Services Board has been praised for extending the time limit for its decision on whether to approve plans to cut the minimum indemnity limit for law firms, which meant the Solicitors Regulation Authority was unable to implement it this year.
Big increase in demand for non-traditional legal services, City report predicts
Global demand for non-traditional legal services, such as contract lawyers and document-review services, will rise sharply over the next five years, research for Allen & Overy has found.
BSB and IPS to launch joint youth advocacy review
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) and ILEX Professional Standards (IPS) are contacting research organisations to prepare the way for an independent review of advocacy in the youth courts.
APIL makes successful complaint over “misleading” Hampson Hughes advert
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has successfully complained about an advertisement broadcast by high-profile Liverpool law firm Hampson Hughes that said claimants would receive £2,000 “up front”.
Lower indemnity limit would “attract discount in premiums”, SRA insists
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has insisted that a lower minimum limit for indemnity insurance would “attract a discount in premiums” for law firms as it sought to counter widespread criticism of its plans.
Information Commissioner sounds alarm over lawyers’ handling of personal data
The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued a warning to solicitors and barristers over the need to keep personal information secure, especially paper files, in the wake of “a number of data breaches” in recent months.
Blog
Modern vehicles: new injury profiles and new legal challenges
As the number of electric vehicles on UK roads continues to grow year-on-year, it is important to address the risks that come with their increased adoption.
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
