Practice Management
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.
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.
Blog
Is your Google Ads budget funding your competitors’ AI visibility?
If your cost-per-click has crept up again this year, you’ve probably assumed the market simply got more expensive. That’s the wrong way to read what’s happening.
Containing the spread of unapproved AI
Nearly 60% of fee-earners admit to using unapproved tools (like free versions of ChatGPT). Yet 68% of firm leaders are confident there is zero risk of unapproved AI being used for client work.
When AI adoption goes wrong, costs add up fast
City AM recently reported that London is fighting to claim the title of ‘global capital of legal AI’. However, it’s crucial we remember that adoption alone does not create value.
