Practice Management
Home-working should not just be for fee-earners, says union
A union for legal sector workers has urged fee-earners allowed to work from home “to show solidarity” with administrative staff at their firms who have not been.
“Outrage” as only partners are allowed to work from home
A union representing legal workers has expressed “outrage” at the “classist allocation of risk” that is seeing law firm partners working from home while other staff are forced into the office.
SRA: “Solicitors conceal disability for fear of harming careers”
Many disabled solicitors have downplayed the extent of their disability because they don’t trust law firms to treat them equally with their able colleagues, new research has revealed.
Court service set to pilot online PI claims system
A pilot for dealing with personal injury claims online is set to launch in late spring. It will be developed during the year so claims can be completed online all the way to the final hearing.
Barrister fails in race discrimination claim against chambers
A barrister expelled from a leading London set after a complaint by its senior clerk has comprehensively lost a race discrimination claim in the employment tribunal.
Video witnessing of deeds moves step closer
Witnessing deeds by video link has moved a step closer after the government accepted a call to set up an industry working group to consider it, while agreeing the law already allows electronic signatures.
Sexism denying female start-up founders investment
Female founders of legal start-ups are confronting sexism among investors, including having to answer demeaning questions like ‘have you frozen your eggs?’.
Most firms increasing bank borrowing, survey finds
There is a “real profitability divide” between larger and smaller law firms although income is generally increasing across the board, new research has found.
City firms “falling behind global rivals” on technology
Commercial law firms based in the UK are falling behind their global rivals in adopting new technology, including artificial intelligence and data analytics, a report has warned.
Judge attacks S&G for “wholly unacceptable” failure
A High Court judge has strongly criticised Slater & Gordon for a “wholly unacceptable” failure to give him a crucial letter when applying for an urgent injunction in a police misconduct case.
Blog
From templates to culture change: Lessons from the SRA on source of funds
The SRA’s new thematic review into source of funds and wealth reveals both progress and persistent blind spots, with source-of-funds checks too often thought of as a procedural hurdle.
Change in regulator shouldn’t make AML less of a priority
While SRA fines for AML have been climbing, many in the profession aren’t confident they will get any relief from the FCA, a body used to dealing with a highly regulated industry.
There are 17 million wills waiting to be written
The main reason cited by people who do not have a will was a lack of awareness as to how to arrange one. As a professional community, we seem to be failing to get our message across.
