Practice Management
LawCare callers complaining about bullying double
The lawyers’ welfare charity LawCare has reported an upsurge in the number of callers complaining about bullying, with reports almost doubling last year.
Firm’s web-surfing employee loses dismissal challenge
A long-serving staff member at a national law firm who rowed with a colleague and had an “unacceptable” level of personal internet use has lost an unfair dismissal challenge.
‘Emotional competency for lawyers’ course launched
Legal mental health and wellbeing charity LawCare has teamed up with the Open University to launch an online resource on emotional competency and professional resilience.
Court wellbeing protocol targets ‘last minute’ culture
Birmingham Family Court will today introduce a wellbeing protocol which aims to end a ‘last minute’ work culture that increases stress on practitioners outside of work hours.
Barrister blogger says colleagues can be “prats on social media”
A leading barrister blogger has blasted her own colleagues at the Bar for “being prats on social media” who “trash our reputation”.
Legaltech platforms receive vote of confidence from investors
The transformation of legal contracts into technology-boosted “dynamic modular agreements” has caught the attention of a major investor, which has ploughed $5m (£3.8m) into lawtech start-up Juro.
Tribunal overturns unfair dismissal ruling against partner
An employment tribunal has ruled that it was wrong to uphold an unfair dismissal claim against a partner in a law firm closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
“Minor error” dooms senior clerk’s unfair dismissal claim
A senior clerk at a London barristers’ chambers cannot bring an unfair dismissal claim because of a “minor error” meaning that it was out of time.
Profession needs “healthier” approach to alcohol
The profession needs to create a healthier culture around alcohol, including never asking people at events why they are not drinking, the Law Society’s Junior Lawyers Division has urged.
Suspended in-house solicitor wins injunction to return to work
An in-house solicitor has won an injunction allowing her to return to work at an NHS trust after a judge found it “strongly arguable” that she had been unreasonably suspended.
Blog
Why good governance matters when managing Law Society forms
Everyday legal transactions rely on Law Society forms. But they are often treated as static templates rather than what they really are: living documents that change over time.
A letter from the SRA? Your first reaction matters
An email from the SRA has a way of rearranging a working day. It arrives in the same inbox as everything else, often in the same measured tone, yet it carries a different weight.
Regulate sole practices on evidence, not turnover
For a sole practice, the SRA’s plan that I cannot hold a compliance role if my firm has more than £600,000 of turnover is not a measure of risk. It is a ceiling on growth.
Reports
Associates
