Practice Management
Coronavirus prompts SRA to rethink closure of SIF
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to look again at whether to close the Solicitors Indemnity Fund – which covers claims made after firms’ run-off cover expires – in September this year.
Partner drops discrimination claims against leading firm
A former partner at leading midlands law firm Shakespeare Martineau has dropped her claims of sex discrimination after they settled their dispute.
Anxiety among aspiring solicitors has “skyrocketed”
Anxiety among aspiring solicitors has “skyrocketed” due to the Covid-19 crisis, a survey has found, with 75% of trainees and paralegals expecting it to lead to “significant job losses at my level of seniority”.
Legal tech education “disjointed and ad hoc”
Legal technology education is focused too much on ‘hot topics’ like machine learning and blockchain, making it “disjointed and ad hoc” in character, a paper for the Legal Services Board has argued.
Law firm fails to strike out deceit allegations
The High Court has rejected an attempt by well-known Surrey law firm Stevens & Bolton to strike out allegations against it of dishonest assistance, deceit and unlawful means conspiracy.
Presence of shielding QC at in-person hearing “not essential”
The physical presence in a sensitive family case of leading counsel shielding from Covid-19 was desirable but “not essential”, a High Court judge has ruled in ordering an in-person hearing.
Covid-19 “exacerbating” inequality in profession
Women lawyers are worried that the coronavirus crisis is exacerbating inequalities in the profession, with the pandemic hitting them hard, a survey has found.
Burnett: “No going back” on remote court hearings
The Lord Chief Justice has said there will be “no going back” to pre-pandemic days for the courts in their use of technology, predicting a permanent change in the way lawyers operated.
Law firms invest $10m in collaboration platform
Three law firms based in the UK, USA and Singapore, have invested $10m in a collaboration platform launched this week. Lupl aims to be the world’s first “open industry platform for legal matters”.
Judge explains himself in writing after phone hearing fails
A High Court judge has been forced to issue a written ruling because his voice was “breaking up” at the end of a telephone hearing with a litigant in person and the law firm suing her for fees.
Blog
Why this is the year for law firms to embrace generative AI
After more than a year of pilots, proofs of value and early experimentation, firms are increasingly embedding AI into day-to-day workflows.
Client account interest is not spare change
The proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts scheme is being framed as a sensible, international, “tried and tested” way for the profession to help fund a justice system under strain.
The formula for finance-enabled business development
Client concentration or over-dependence now counts as a top strategic risk for 26% of firms. Cross-selling is an antidote – a way to bolster revenue resilience without relying on client acquisition.
