Practice Management
Family courts “failing” McFarlane’s wellbeing challenge
Many courts have not responded to the encouragement of the president of the Family Division to lay down acceptable working practices so as to improve wellbeing, a leading QC has claimed.
Legal Access Challenge finalists revealed
A chatbot for people with learning disabilities, tools to help women facing domestic violence, and data-supported advice on employment disputes are among the Legal Access Challenge finalists.
PI firms “ignoring” out-of-hours calls and Facebook contacts
Personal injury law firms are failing to adapt to clients using less traditional methods of contacting them by not responding when clients call them out-of-hours or via Facebook, according to new research.
SIF rule could be “catastrophic” for retired solicitors
Refusal by the Solicitors Indemnity Fund to accept notifications of potential claims could be “catastrophic” for retired solicitors, a specialist in professional regulation and insurance has warned.
Ex-partner suing firm denied sight of its NDAs
A former partner suing south-east law firm McMillan Williams over alleged sexual misconduct and harassment has been denied access to any non-disclosure agreements it may have reached.
Firm advertises for black solicitor apprentices
Well-known law firm Leigh Day has hit back at criticism from “trolls” after it advertised solicitor apprenticeships for six black students of Afro-Caribbean or African heritage.
“Confusion reigns” in applying tech to access to justice
A damning report into legal technology and access to justice has found the advice sector beset by confusion and fragmentation, with most innovation taking place in the commercial part of the profession.
City firm gives away email management software
City law firm Travers Smith is giving away free of charge home-grown email management software in the hope of to stimulating greater co-operation between firms.
Court modernisation still has long way to go, NAO warns
HM Courts and Tribunals Service has made “good progress” in transforming some services, but there are still “significant challenges” ahead for the court modernisation programme, the NAO said today.
Deloitte launches three-year SQE training contracts
Big Four accountant Deloitte has launched a pioneering three-year training contract, allowing trainees to study at the University of Law for one day a week and work the remaining four.
Blog
On good authority? GenAI and the reputational risks to law firms
As GenAI’s influence grows, so do the risks which are already playing out in courtrooms across England and Wales, where some early adopters are setting precedents they would rather not.
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.
