Practice Management
“Boris deserves it” paralegal leaves firm after storm
An law firm has condemned the “deeply offensive” remarks of a paralegal who has left the business after making headlines with a post on Facebook that Boris Johnson deserved to catch coronavirus.
Legal Access Challenge winners scoop extra £50k each
A technology platform which supports survivors of domestic abuse and a chatbot helping people with learning disabilities understand their social care rights, have won the Legal Access Challenge.
Court rejects “fanciful” conveyancing negligence claim
The High Court has rejected a “fanciful” £600,000 conveyancing negligence claim against the law firm Gateley, based on an error admitted by the firm.
Daughter in CoP case questions “second-rate” Skype justice
An academic who was present at the first Court of Protection hearing to be conducted over Skype last month has raised concerns over its impact on relatives and witnesses.
Negligent firm ordered to pay €3.5m to property investors
A defunct Italian law firm that operated in London has been ordered by the High Court to pay €3.5m to investors in a failed holiday development that allegedly had links to the Mafia.
Firms launches ‘will through a window’ service
A law firm in Wiltshire is offering a ‘Wills through a window’ service as law firms look for ways to execute wills validly amidst a spike in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lawyers and HMCTS launch remote hearings resource
A project has gone live enabling the global justice community to share experiences of developing remote alternatives to physical court hearings in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Crown prosecutor with PTSD was not discrimination victim
An experienced Crown prosecutor who resigned after developing post-traumatic stress order from being threatened at a magistrates’ court was not discriminated against, a tribunal has ruled.
SRA relaxes assessment rules for students and trainees
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has today outlined a significant relaxation of its rules for law students and trainees to allow more of their assessment to go online.
Don’t believe the hype: “Modest” take-up of lawtech
The take-up of many forms of lawtech are “modest” in England and Wales, and especially so for technology assisted by artificial intelligence, despite the hype around it, new research has found.
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.
