Practice Management
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.
SRA gives up on major indemnity insurance reform
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has ended a controversial five-year project to reform the professional indemnity insurance regime, meaning the minimum level of cover will not be cut to £500,000.
Partnership “validly kept alive” to avoid pension liability
A law firm that incorporated its business but kept the partnership alive solely to frustrate a retired partner’s pension entitlement has defeated that partner’s claim in the High Court.
Call for “real inclusion” rather than tick boxes at the Bar
The Bar should focus on “real inclusion” and “actionable, practical steps” to improve diversity rather than tick boxes, a black barrister and human rights activist has argued.
Hale: Gender-biased instructions holding back female barristers
Women not being instructed in the best cases and “traditional assumptions about who gets what sort of judging job” are the main reasons for there being relatively few in the senior judiciary, Lady Hale has argued.
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.
